I was struck by a post from @annvoskamp where she quotes:
“Prayer isn’t the least we can do. Prayer isn’t all we can do. Prayer is, ultimately, the most we can do.” — Ann Voskamp
There is so much going on….for a couple of years now.
There is always pain, you will find it wherever you look.
Friends, and I don’t say this lightly but out of concern for mental and spiritual health (my own included), take advantage of the ability to turn the news off / step away from social media every now and again. Our hearts were not made to take in a constant stream of so much pain and suffering from around the world 24/7/365.
We can be compassionate and helpful and Christ-like in concern and caring for others but we can also be Christ-like when we need to withdraw and pray to our Heavenly Father.
In the Gospels, we can see many occasions where Jesus left the crowds and went away to pray alone.
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Matthew 14:23 — “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…”
- Mark 1:35 — “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
- Luke 5:15,16 — “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
Jesus left the pressing needs constantly surrounding Him, even His disciples, to pray in private.
If you are anything like me, bordering on being an empath, I’m giving you the permission if you need it to quiet it all and spend some time with God.
Pray for courage to be Christian in this day and age.
Pray for governing authorities worldwide.
Pray for peace.
But above all, pray through the inevitable trials for HIS will to be done in and through them all; for HIS redemptive story, for HIS glory—not ours.
Jesus come quickly.