Author Archives: Valerie Hobbs

Prayer for Rebekah

“O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, Please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that IContinue reading “Prayer for Rebekah”

Hagar’s Naming Prayer

 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” The angel of the Lord said to her further, “Behold, you are pregnant,And you will give birth to a son;And you shall name him Ishmael,Because the Lord has heard your affliction.But he will be a wild donkey of a man;His hand will be against everyone,And everyone’sContinue reading “Hagar’s Naming Prayer”

Asking God to be God: The Lifeblood of Prayer in Genesis 4

Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:25-26 Genesis 4:26 is widely understoodContinue reading “Asking God to be God: The Lifeblood of Prayer in Genesis 4”

1 Samuel 3 and the Sacred Space of the Night

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli. And word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in theContinue reading “1 Samuel 3 and the Sacred Space of the Night”

Those Who See the Sun – Video Meditation

Readings: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Ecclesiastes is medicine for the wounded and their helpers and especially those with visions of empire. Grand designs! High hopes! Victorious visions! We set out to overturn oppressors, rescue castaways, sort out all the systems, win the world! Ecclesiastes speaks back. “Vanity of vanities,” its writer declares. “All isContinue reading “Those Who See the Sun – Video Meditation”

Two Can Resist Him: Matthew 18 and the Power of Two

Key Texts: Ecclesiastes 4; Matthew 18:1-20 Jesus’s words in Matthew 18 about confronting a brother in sin are among the most frequently weaponised in service of power and against the persecuted. “But have you approached this person privately about this? Have you followed Matthew 18?” These are questions that so many of us will recogniseContinue reading “Two Can Resist Him: Matthew 18 and the Power of Two”