God's Voice over the Gulf

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. Psalm 29: 3 NRSV

I have been pretty upset about this oil spill in the Gulf. I know the media focuses on the loss of property value and summer revenue. But I find myself upset over two things: the unwillingness of ANYONE to take responsibility and the loss of sea life. Folks who live near the Gulf are collecting pet hair in order to help contain the oil and yet the oil companies won't lift a hair to say they will accept the burden of this awful tragedy. Ugh.

Then I read Psalm 29 which speaks of God's mighty sovereignty and power over all creation - including the seas. God's voice is supreme over the waters. God's voice is mightier than the oil companies and the oil spill combined. So why am I not praying for God's miraculous power to heal this spill and the sea life caught in the crossfire?

If I truly believe that God is that all-powerful, then I am not praying correctly. I invite you to join me in praying this prayer. Let us all give this up to God whose voice is over the Gulf of Mexico.

God, it is your voice that is over the waters, your voice and majesty that thunders over the seas and your might that reigns over the Gulf of Mexico. God, a great and terrible accident, some say mistake, has occurred in the Gulf. No one, God has taken responsibility for any of this. No one seems to be in charge. Yet, life, precious life of the seas you reign gloriously over is being destroyed. The devastation is such that it may be years before this ocean can recover. But you, you dear God, are mightier than the biggest oil company. You are stronger and more lasting than the oil pumping into the Gulf. You are more powerful than any dispersant. You can change hearts, turn people around, redirect malice and misuse of power, work miracles, and do more than we can ever hope or imagine. God, we need you to thunder over the waters of the Gulf. We need you to plug up the leak on the bottom of the ocean. We need you to convict people and companies to take responsibility for their actions. We need you to work in a mighty way to contain the oil which has already seeped into the waters so that lives of fish, sea plants and animals will be saved today and in the future. God, we don't know how you will do this but we trust that you can do this. Help us to know how we can be a part of your mighty work. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims