2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NRSVUE)

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, ⁴ who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. ⁶ If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

 

Today's Reflective Questions

• What is God saying to you through this/these texts?
• How will you allow this/these scriptures effect your prayer life?
• Where do you find yourself as you pay attention to this scripture?

This Week's Lenten Focus: Prayer

This Lenten season, Bishop David Wilson, along with some conference staff and members of the laity, are inviting the people of the Great Plains Conference and beyond to “Pay Attention to God’s Voice” during this season of Lent. This week's focus is Prayer.

Prayer is at the heart of Christianity. Prayer is connecting to God, showing our heart. Prayer is also listening, listening, listening. There is no one right way to do it. What we have found is that the more we pour out our heart to God, the more connected we are to God. The more connected we are to God, the more strength we have to pray. Sometimes our prayers are intimate. Sometimes our prayers are universal. Sometimes they are coherent and sometimes discombobulated. Sometimes we are silent. Each of these have ways that connect us to God who is both intimate and universal, who cares enough to have created each of us and also created the universe.

There have also been times when we could not pray, we did not know how to pray, we did not know what to pray, or how to even begin. It is in these times especially that we give God thanks for people who have come alongside us to be a prayer advocate.

Prayer in its many forms is vehicle for mutual communication with God. Not only talking to God but also sensing where ... when ... how God is speaking and what is God saying. As with Elijah on 1 Kings 19:11-13 ... often God is in the thin silence ... a still small voice.

 

• Watch a video featuring Rev. Dr. Shelly Petz and Rev. Dr. Charlotte Abram talking about prayer.
• Watch a video featuring Bishop David Wilson inviting you to observe a Holy Lent
• To learn more, check out this special page on our website dedicated to our Lenten topics.

Synopsis of Prayer Practice: Prayer Advocate

Friends, we invite you to consider having a prayer advocate, someone who can prayer with you on your behalf. We each have both been people who have prayed for others and people who have been prayed for. If you have someone who prays for you, how has your life been changed? If you have not had someone praying for you, would you consider this? Would you consider this for such a time as this? What would it look like to show your heart to God and to one other person and invite them to pray on your behalf? When we are in the midst of so much all around us, what would it look like to pay attention to God and invite someone alongside us as we do to pray on our behalf? We also invite you to invite someone to be your prayer advocate during our Lenten journey, someone who prays with and for you. Or consider entering a prayer partner relationship, mutually praying for each other. Both can happen in the relationship.

 

Invitation to Go Deeper

Reread the scripture for today slowly three times, once silently, once out loud and again underline the word or phrase that stands out to you.  Reflect on the word or phrase that has caught your attention by journaling your thoughts … or sitting quietly and meditating on that word or phrase.

 

Psalm 81:6-7
Psalm 23