Pray On!
Scripture lessons:
James 5.1-13
Mark 9.38-50
“Are any among you suffering? They should pray.
Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.”
James 5.1
New Revised Standard Version
For most of her adult life a series of illnesses forced Dottie to do much of her living from her bed. Although her physical movements were restricted, nothing could confine her dynamic spirit. Dottie believed that she had essential work to do: the work of prayer. So her bed was scattered with devotional pamphlets, a Bible, writing paper, an address book, and a telephone directory. These were the tools she used to send messages and prayers of encouragement to family, friends and her church. I knew that she prayed for me, and that knowledge energized me for my daily work.
In the Letter to James, the author asked his readers: “Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.” These are words of encouragement from someone who understood prayer to be a first priority, and never a last resort. Furthermore, the writer was convinced that prayer–an ongoing, intimate relationship with God—is essential for all the seasons of life, in times of joy as well as distress.
The great scholar and teacher, Karl Barth, urged that our prayers “be an uprising against the disorder of the world,” filling the world with the love of the Creator and nurturing us to be as loving as God, as alive as Jesus, and as creative as the Holy Spirit. Like Dottie, you and I can learn to be part of such an uprising.
Prayer: O God, help us to persist in our prayers, so that we may grow in relationship with you, and become signs of your love for all of creation; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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