Not Being Afraid
Hi! It's me again, PB (Prayer Blogger), with some thoughts/questions – about not being afraid (It is the time of Halloween), who you pray for and “community.”
Not Being Afraid
You might say, “Haven't we all been afraid at some point?” It could be common anxiety, concern, worry – aren’t they all sort of related? Why have you been afraid? Was it a reaction to a forecasted natural event – like a tornado? Was it someone? Was it yourself? Are you afraid now? Is someone you know afraid?
A 1972 Catholic hymn, which is in many denomination’s hymnals, is titled, Be Not Afraid. It is based on Isaiah 43:2-3, and the chorus is:
Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.
When you talk with someone about your fears, what happens? Sometimes you get answers and solutions. Sometimes you feel you don’t. But what actually happens internally? Do you feel better because someone listened? Certainly you would feel better if you got a clear answer. Let’s not forget, God listens! Prayer plays a huge role in assuaging fear. One could argue that prayer is a privilege, a solution. What do you think? (care to comment below?)
Who do you pray for?
Family? Friends? Victims? Countries? Leaders? Yourself? The list can be very long. Can’t you pray for anyone/everyone? Pastor Leanne, in her most recent Prayer Blog post, suggested that when we say we are praying for someone we are holding them in our heart space. Do you remember the Niel Diamond song Heartlight?
Turn on your heartlight
Let it shine wherever you go
Let it make a happy glow
For all the world to see . . . .
Does your prayer turn on your heartlight? (Do you remember the movie that inspired this song?)
Who we pray for reflects who we care for. This can be both very specific, or it can be very broad: “Lord, we pray for the people of Israel and Palestine in this time of war.” This one raises some interesting questions. We may or may not know anyone in Israel or Palestine. Or, we may be praying for Ukraine and the ministry of God’s Hidden Treasures (GHT), which we support at CPC and we know a bit more about. We can do something about GHT by sending financial donations, but can we do something about the wars in Israel/Palestine or Ukraine generally? You might say, yes, we can write to our political leaders and request they support these countries. But what about your prayer for Israel or Palestine or Ukraine - what would you say? (Please comment below)
Community
What community? Your church? Your group of friends? Your town? Your state? Your country? The world? Community can be defined very broadly:
a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
What community(ies) do you pray for?
Some people might also be praying to have a community with others when it is absent in their lives. Whoa! That’s troubling. We need to pray for them! We are blessed that we have such a strong “community” here at CPC and especially when we celebrate communion.
Turn on your “heartlight” now ... for the communities you care for.
Praying for you!
PB
Community Presbyterian Church
32202 Del Obispo
San Juan Capistrano. CA 92675
949-493-1502