The Strength in Prayer

This scripture reminded me of a prayer journal a pastor gave to me. She challenged me to note my prayers, as well as to read others’ prayers that she included. Among those, Martin Luther’s words stand out: “Behold, Lord, I am weak in the faith, strengthen me?”

Hezekiah must have realized that his people felt the same way-a need to return to prayer. He cleansed the Temple, opened the doors and gathered the priests to consecrate their lives to spiritual service. He understood the importance of responsible action, including prayer.

So did Luther. His good friend, Friedrich Myconius, became quite ill. He wrote a farewell letter to Luther. Luther replied, “I command thee in the name of God to live because I have need of thee in the working of reforming the church-the Lord will never let me hear that thou art dead, but will permit thee to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, and may my will be done because I seek only to glorify the name of God.” Myconius recovered, lived six more years and died two months after Luther. (E. Gross. This Day in Religion. New York: Neil Shuman, 1990)

Strong words. Strong prayer. Strong faith.

Dear Lord, help me to strengthen my faith through prayer. Amen. — BG