A colleague of mine reminded me that as followers of Jesus, “Our prayers for others begin as we recognize that Jesus prays for us first — we are recipients of prayer. Therefore, our prayers begin not with our words, but with our hearts. To pray is to long for a connection with something bigger than ourselves – a recognition that you and I cannot face the world alone.”

When we pray, we admit that we do not have all the answers to make it through the day, much less tomorrow, or the day after that. When we pray, we are not convincing God to do something for us; or asking God for things as if God were Santa Claus. Prayer begins in the heart. The posture of prayer is leaning into the love of our creator, in whom we are all connected. Prayer, as William Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas write, “Prayer is bending our lives toward God.” Opening our lives to the divine love flowing to us and into the world.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.