How Prayer Changed My Life

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When we were leaving very early in the morning last month, to take Tori off the college for the first time, my mom sent me a text. It was just four short words. “Love you. Be brave.” It was her prayer to me as I struggled to let go of my first child, to send her off into the big world and hope that she would embrace her new home, do well, but perhaps most importantly as a mom, that no one would break her heart and that she would be safe. I have pondered since that text as to why those words changed my entire day. Why I was able to drive to Chestertown that day, be there for the entire day, unpacking and taking in that we would go home with one less family member in the car and that our lives had changed dramatically in that moment. I …show more content…

Perhaps that’s why the book of James moves onto the community aspect of prayer. “My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner 's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” I know the verse talks about sin, I hear that part, but I think the most important part is that it speaks of the responsibility we all have for one another. Prayer in the quiet of our room or our hurting hearts is one thing, but prayer with those who are holding our hearts with us, is quite another. The community may be holding our hearts in joy, like when we celebrate a marriage in our sanctuary or when we worship each Sunday and sing prayers of joy or when a baby is born. But the community also holds us in prayers over sickness and pain and loss. The prayers of the community shape the congregation of believers and allow us to more acutely become the body of Christ. As we pray with one another we get the chance to listen for God’s voice through someone else’s experiences. Prayer with another also allows us to be God’s words and voice in the world. It gives flesh to the misty God we can’t quite get our brain around. If we are open prayer can actually change relationships and lives. The disease may not be cured, the shattered relationship may not be completely healed, the job may not be found, but there is still healing and grace in our moments of

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