7 Prayers That Work

Hello,  It's me again, Lord. I feel stuck. There's so much to talk about, to ask you for, and to ask you about: The Coronavirus ,  the quarantine, the Chinese, the economy, the jobless, the sick, the first responders, the doctors and nurses, my work, my home, my family, my church, my community, my country, the world. There is so much. I know you're not worried. I know you have a plan. Of course, your p lan is always to glorify your Son, Jesus. Your plan is always to redeem us, your children. Somehow, you do both. It's hard to understand. Your ways are higher than mine. Your perspective is broader than mine. Your purpose is holy, while mine is selfish. You are working, and I want to join you, but I feel stuck in this crisis. Develop courage in me because I am afraid . Develop grace in me because I am judgmental. Develop patience in me because I am impatient. Develop compassion in me because I am selfish. I ask you to ans...

Below is a blogpost on Guideposts, by my friend Bob Hostetler. He writes extensively about prayer, and uses laments on his prayer blog to show his readership how to call out to God when times are terrible. Last week proved yet another example of when and how to lament. I've copied his blog below, as well as the source material. AFTER OREGON'S TRAGEDY, PRAY THE PRAYER OF TEARS by Bob Hostetler Another shooting happened last week at a community college in Oregon. Nine innocent people died, adding to our collective sense of grief and frustration. Since then, of course, airwaves and the internet have been filled with anger and argument, outcries and opinions of all kinds. Such things are understandable. They can even be healthy. Though few people—if any—would suggest that prayers alone are sufficient at such a time, prayer is critical. And particularly the prayer of tears. The psalmist David cried out: Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to m...