All of us need inspiration to get us through the challenges of this life and to know that God is the wellspring that refreshes our spirits, gives us courage, and guides our footsteps.

Each week the Globe publishes a “Prayer for Willie” taken from a collection by Dr. Hamilton T. Boswell, to remind each of us of the presence of God in our lives, no matter what faith, denomination or interpretation we choose for ourselves.

Graciou God, we come to You in the thick of this difficult task as mere mortal people, struggling to resolve problems that can only be resolved with Your help.

We are grateful for the progress we have made.

Be with us now in a special way as we face what is to come.

Be among us, Lord, in Your glory and power, so that each one of us may find commonality and resolve the deadlocks often holding us.

May Your spirit so empower us in heart, mind and hand that it may be written that on this day we followed a star that led the way.

Amen

For information regarding Prayers For Willie, Pathways for Daily Living, please e-mail Eleanor Boswell-Raine at eleanor@theglobenewspapers.com or telephone her at 510-222-5656.

God’s great forgiveness

God’s most dramatic portrayal of forgiveness in the Bible (other than Christ’s death on the cross) is found in the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11–24. In these verses, Jesus reveals to us God’s view of sin and forgiveness.
    This story was told with Christians in mind. Jesus was talking about a son, one who was very much a part of a family unit. In his selfishness and immaturity, he goes to his father and demands his share of the inheritance. He then leaves his family for a distant land, where he squanders all he has on immoral living.
    The scripture says, “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine,” (Luke 15:14–15). In the end, the son was so poor, so destitute and hungry that he longed to eat the very food he fed the pigs.
    When we choose to walk away from God’s will deliberately, we plot a course that can lead to spiritual, emotional and often physical destruction. However, we also know that the scriptures teach that we serve a God of love. 1 John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
    God’s very nature is love and forgiveness. It is God’s grace demonstrated toward man. So, when the young man came to his father, he immediately confessed his sins and was immediately forgiven. This wonderful parable is given to us so that we might see and understand the heart of God and the unending love that He has for us, even in our sins.
    Isn’t God wonderful?