Prayer, Wigglesworth’s Knees And Forgiveness. A Devotion.

“Prayer should be the key of the day and lock of the night.”

George Herbert

The Gift of Prayer

Prayer.

A lot of people say, “I’m praying for you.”

You hope that they mean it, and offer those prayers for you.

To pray, to ask, to seek and perhaps even to find.

Prayer provides a solace that in this world we simply cannot find.

Prayer doesn’t have to be verbose, big or grand.

Prayer can be a quiet supplication when no one is around.

Pray, listen, meditate and read.

Bright Golden Morning Image courtesy of Daniel King

Bear your soul’s needs, give your burdened spirit a reprieve.

Pray for your neighbor, your enemies and your friends.

Pray for those ravaged by war, hunger and pain.

They need your prayers to cope with their insurmountable pain.

Take a few moments and lift your head.

Pray to the heavenlies.

I assure you, you will have no regrets.

Good Friday is a time for Prayer and Reflection

This morning I was reading about an evangelist from from England. His name was Smith Wigglesworth. He had a history that was well, interesting. I will leave a link below that talks about his most interesting and sometimes unverifiable life. He was known to have healed a lot of people amongst other interesting happenings. An Englishman was responsible for the “Holy Roller” movement in various parts of the world. Wigglesworth died in 1947 at the age of 87. When the coroner performed his autopsy they found that some of the bone on each of his knees was missing. When they went to his house they found two indentations a knee length apart on the wooden floor. Wigglesworth had spent so much time in prayer that it literally took some of his knees bones. Amazing, right?

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-unverifiable-legend-of-the-early-20thcentury-preacher-who-raised-14-people-from-the-dead

Wigglesworth was serious about prayer. How serious are we in our prayer life? I am reminded of the last few days of the life of Christ. In those days he lived a prayer to those around him and he prayed fervently in the garden. After the last supper, he retreated to the garden. He was sweating drops of blood with great emotion. In his prayer he uttered:

https://seedbed.com/3-final-prayers-jesus-desire-for-us-on-his-final-night/

“My prayer is not for them alone [his disciples]. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:20-26)

Jesus relied on prayer for connection, solace and strength

If Jesus relied on prayer to make it through daily life and ultimately through his trek to the cross, how much more should we rely on prayer to help us make it through life? Prayer is essential. Prayer is necessary. We don’t have to lose some of our knee bones like Smith Wigglesworth, but we can rely on prayer as a solace and hope in our lives.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithmatters/2024/03/the-significance-of-good-friday/

When you hear someone utter, “You are in my prayers.” Do you believe them?

When you hear someone utter, “You are in my prayers.” Do you believe them? I often wonder if this phrase has gone the route of, “How are you?” We often ask to fill the void of silence without any real intent on knowing how someone really is. Perhaps when we say, “I am praying for you.” We should indeed do so. Even if it is right then and right there. It doesn’t have to be grand or verbose. A Simple prayer can be: “Dear God, please bring peace and help my friend (or family.) Please give them your love and grace in their situation” That is it. God understands our hearts through even the simplest prayer.

Prayer is the soul of hope

I read a few little blurbs about prayer earlier. Some of the takeaway portions from the act of prayer were as follows: Prayer is the soul of hope. When we pray we light a candle in the darkness. Prayer rouses us from the tepidity of a purely horizontal existence and brings us into awareness of those in need around us. It is a bonding of the souls. Prayer is transformative. It brings you out of your bubble and puts your mind on others who are indeed in need of prayer for their situations. I would say, that is pretty powerful. Jesus wants us to tap into that transformative power of prayer.

Good Friday also teaches us to forgive

As Jesus hung on the cross, suffering not only physically but spiritually; he was bearing the sins of the world. The weight is unimaginable to our minds. He looked down to see soldiers casting lots of his clothes. His disciples had all but abandoned him. Those who spoke words of praise for him many times were now gone. Amid the utter betrayal Jesus said:

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

We must practice forgiveness. I once had a mentor say to me that forgiveness is a fact first. The feelings come after. To forgive is to make the conscious choice to start the path of healing. The path may be slow and the choice may have to be made more than once but.. we have started the act. She also shared with me some great words to live by.