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Father Shenouda Mansour teaches us to pray impossible prayers, knowing that no prayer goes unheard – though it may be answered unexpectedly.

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The Very Rev Fr Shenouda Mansour is the General Secretary for the NSW Ecumenical Council, and a Priest in the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Today's reading is Luke 3:1-6

Fear enters our space when human thoughts plays on our mind to say that there is no solution to our problems, difficulties and tribulations of all sorts. Take a moment…what is on your mind? You have been praying for some time for God to answer your prayers and supplications. As human beings, we don’t realise, God hears our prayers - regardless of the size of the request and its significance, big or small, God has listed it as a request from you.

Already in this Advent series, we’ve heard the wonderful account of Zechariah and Elizabeth, righteous and God fearing people whose prayers were answered in the birth of John the Baptist. In today’s reading, we see that the very prayers of God’s people were also answered through John the Baptist, who made straight an uncertain path as he prepared the way for Christ, for God’s salvation. The ultimate answer to an impossible prayer.

Sometimes God answers impossible prayers in unexpected ways, that we may not understand at the time or see the fruit of until many years later.

Think of your own impossible prayers. The fear of thoughts that say to us, ‘this is impossible’ is very real, and the fear of how can God solve my problems sets in our human mind. For us, we only need to place the matter between the hands of God, and make those requests in prayer and in supplication. God truly listens to your heart felt prayer as God understands the intention and love that you have for your precious family and friends.

God is the God of Miracles. God is the God that loves to do the impossible. God is the God that reminds our minds, nothing is impossible for God. God can do anything and everything. We should never fear…for God will be there to support us – God gives us His constant support and love, for God is Love.

The gift of life is waiting for you this Advent. Don’t tarry and don’t delay, it's waiting for you and God is waiting to tell you, ‘I can do it for you, only believe’.

Oh Lord help me believe, and cast my fear away from me, Amen.

Luke 3:1-6

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. 3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 4 Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
    Clear the road for him!
5 The valleys will be filled,
    and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened,
    and the rough places made smooth.
6 And then all people will see
    the salvation sent from God.’”

 

Fear Not: An Advent series from Common Grace

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The Humble Path

Scott Sanders launches our Advent series by getting lost in the bush and finding the humble path - at expense of his pride.

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Space and Time to Change

Charlene Delos Santos gets a reality check about racism in Australia, but sees the possibility for kingdom-centred change in all of us - just maybe not the way we expect.

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Silent Fears

In Zechariah’s silence, Michelle Farrall finds the strength to confront her own fears. Albeit reluctantly.

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Past and Present Fears

Dr Meredith Lake looks back at our history, the good and the bad, and asks how fear drives our engagement in the world today.

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A Universal Problem

“Fear causes people to hold tightly to what we have”. On day 6 of Advent, Grace Lung reflects on letting go of fear and embracing trust.

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Songs That Ache

Songs full of ache, promise and encouragement. Rev Christine Redwood reflects on these different songs in her search for justice and healing.

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An Impossible Prayer

Father Shenouda Mansour teaches us to pray impossible prayers, knowing that no prayer goes unheard – though it may be answered unexpectedly.

· by Stephen O'Doherty

Perfect Love

Fear that motivates and fear that paralyses. Stephen O’Doherty breaks down how perfect love is the antidote to these conditions.

· by Elizabeth Stone

Disrupters of Old

Disruption, drought and dodgy knees. Elizabeth Stone reminds us of the long tradition of changemakers we belong to.

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Longing for Salvation

Brad Chilcott finds in Isaiah’s song a call to challenge the cultural, global and internal enemies that divide us, as we join in God’s holistic salvation for this world.

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Being Present with Our Fear

Liz Milani validates Mary’s fear, and learns from her example how we might navigate our own fear and uncertainty, without yielding to it.

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Fear that leads to action

When confronted with the reality of our climate crisis, Jason John urges us that our response needs to be faith in action, not helpless fear.

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A Passing Fear

Hwvar Khoshnow acknowledges the heavy weight of fear, and lightness of hope in the promise of its passing.

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Life, not Death

Stevie Wills was strangled by the umbilical cord at birth. She shares her journey of connecting with her living and letting go of the fear of death.


This series has been produced by Common Grace,
with support from Christian Super.