The Prayer of Elves,
A Eleberth Gilthoniel
Good Morning Friends,
A few days ago one of my friends jokingly suggested that he would get the unionized elves praying for some people associated with ministry. It captured the fancy of several people in part because of who we praying for and the double meaning of unionized. The original thought may have prompted in the mind of some images of Santa and toys or the Shoemaker and elves sharing in a supernatural act, but for me the first thing that struck me was something very different. My mind turned to Tolkien and the elven words as prayer and song as if speaking in tongue. Here the words must be voiced to imbue them with strength and power. So today we meditate on the Christian message Tolkien might have had in mind in the song, The Prayer of Elves, A Eleberth Gilthoniel.
6Scripture: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NRSV)
6As we work together with him,* we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.
2 Corinthians 6:1 (NRSV)
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of* James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Acts 1:12-14 (NRSV)
Message: Even a casual reading of the book of Acts confirms how totally the disciples depended upon prayer — how they dared not make a move without committing to prayer, seeking God for His guidance and deliverance through prayer. Sure God knows our needs but God also wants us to share in the process of creation.
Maybe you really do not understand who it is you are speaking to when you pray. Think for a moment as the words are formed in your mind and then honestly acknowledge the one you hope is hearing the words. If it is to others and not God, then maybe your words are not a prayer at all. So we confess that prayer is our greatest Christian privilege but unfortunately also our greatest Christian failure. All of us need to learn to pray more and to pray better. But one of the reasons we do not pray better than we do, or any more than we do, is that we have questions about prayer. These questions cause in us an uncertainty. Then our uncertainty sometimes neutralizes us and we become hesitant about prayer…about action. Frodo invokes words of power when being chased by the Black Riders. Sam utters them when facing a huge spider. They are elven words. Silent prayer here at these times just does not make the grade. Here prayer and song is to be woven together as an act of creation and of praise in response to God’s creation. If we are going to impact our families, our nation, and our world in missions it begins with prayer. Maybe we can learn of few things from the elves. Friends we are to wear our faith on our sleeves. We are to be dependent upon prayer.
Pray our prayers invoke a power to stop evil in its tracks. Pray our prayers invite the attention of God in our fellowship and development. Pray our prayers have conviction and intent. Pray our prayers bind us to God and in fellowship make us one.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 