A Prayer for Power

This week I’ve been preparing a sermon to preach in Goodson Chapel.  Goodson Chapel is where Duke Divinity School holds worship services throughout the week for students, faculty, and whoever else decides to drop in.  I was nominated to preach there by one of my preaching professors, and I feel very honored to have this privilege.

As you can imagine, preaching in front of a crowd of preachers and professors is a little intimidating.  Most people there will have strong thoughts about preaching styles and in-depth knowledge of the scripture passage I’m preaching (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).  There is no doubt that some will say to themselves, as I have before, “I would’ve preached that passage a little differently.”

Yet, I am confident that God has prepared me for this day, Jesus Christ will be preached, and the Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to transform lives.

I was powerfully reminded of the truth above when I came across the following prayer in the book “Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans.”  The only thing known about the author, Orrin Stone, is that he was a minister in South Carolina in the late 19th century.

This week I’m reading the prayer as if it were prayed about me, and I’m praying it for my friends in ministry as if it were written about them.

A Prayer for Power (1889) – Orrin Stone

O Lawd, gib dy sarvint, dis Sunday mawnin’, de eye of an eagle dat he may see sin f’om afar.  Put his han’s to de gospel pulpit; glue his ears to the gospel telefoam an’ conneck him wid de Glory in de skies.  ‘Luminate his brow wid a holy light dat will make de fiahs of hell look like a tallah candle.  Bow his head down in humility, in dat lonesome valley wheah de pearl of truth is much needed to be said.  Grease his lips wid possum ‘ile to make it easy fo’ love to slip outen his mouth…

Turpentine his ‘magination; ‘lectrify his brain wid de powah of the Word.  Put ‘petual motion in his arms.  Fill him full of de dynamite of Dy awful powah; ‘noint him all ovah wid de kerosene of Dy salvation, an’ den, O Lawd, sot him on fiah wid de sperrit of de Holy Ghos’.