Week 5 w/c 21st March – Prayer Walk
Reflection by Pat Kerr
‘Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.’ Romans 8:26
Over the years I have been blessed with many people in my life who have sown love, kindness, generosity, hospitality and so much more into my life and now the life of my family. Some of these people have been fleeting relationships, while others remain ongoing. The seasons of life introduce us to people, like when we begin school, or start a new job or people we meet on our travels, our neighbours etc.
As I reflect over my life and think of the people, I have been blessed to share these different seasons of life with, I can’t help but see the value that each of these encounters had. That teacher who encouraged me to believe, I was better than I thought. A nun who helped me understand faith and God for myself. Those friendships in my teenage years gave me a sense of belonging and then there are those relationships that transcend all seasons.
Hopefully we all have experienced some of these in our lives. The friendships where it doesn’t matter how long you have not seen the person for when you are reunited you pick up from where you left off. This type of relationship is where you get to be your true self, completely transparent and vulnerable. They see you on your best and worst days. They share your celebrations and stand with you in your sorrows. These relationships are quite unique and special and I am blessed I have a few of these in my life. When I think of them, I can’t help but wonder what makes them so special and at the centre of this is time.
We are invested in each other’s lives; we have built up a relationship of trust and care deeply for each other. If something happens either good or bad, when we think of who to share it with, they are the person that springs to mind. Even though we don’t always see each other as often as we would like, we always touch base and make sure all is well.
God desires that same intimacy with us. He doesn’t want to be a seasonal friend, who slots into the work category or sports group. He wants a relationship that transcends all our seasons. Celebrating in our joys and comforting us in our sorrows. The only way to have this relationship is to seek after it. It’s to desire the same intimacy with God as we would our closest friend. To be vulnerable and generous with our time sharing our life story with Him and when something happens turning to him just as we would our closet friend. This takes practice and the ability to see God in all things as opposed to far off and uninterested in our lives. This week why not practice walking and talking with God, giving thanks for the world around you, sharing your story and praying for others as you walk. (Heads up…It’s ok to do this in your head as you walk, I’m not asking you to look like a crazy person)
SUGGESTED: As you take a walk around our community, pray for those living in each street you pass through, and the buildings you walk past – this could include the teachers & pupils in our schools, the shop workers on the High Street and volunteers in our various community centres.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, as we walk through your creation, may we feel and sense your presence, being made aware of all that you have created and love. God give us the confidence and boldness to speak blessings over our community, praying for areas that need your kingdom in-breaking. God as we walk may we be aware of your Spirit and where it leads us to pray. Give us the confidence and the words to intercede, we ask this in your precious name;
Amen