Daily Scripture
Matthew 13:54-56: When he came to his hometown, he taught the people in their synagogue. They were surprised and said, “Where did he get this wisdom? Where did he get the power to work miracles? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? Aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? And his sisters, aren’t they here with us? Where did this man get all this?”
Prayer Tip
Tis’ the season… for PRAYING OUT LOUD! Just in case the holidays and family dynamics didn’t make this time stressful enough, I am here as the Pastor of Prayer to encourage you to practice what might be an anxiety inducing exercise this season: PRAYING OUT LOUD MORE OFTEN.
Now my husband and I are both United Methodist pastors, my sister and her husband are in ministry as well, and do you know who says the Thanksgiving and Christmas prayers? You guessed it—my dad. I pray in front of the church each week, but my dad just has this special/tradition-filled way of blessing the meal that has always intimidated me. I share this confession because I want you to know it is totally normal if you have dodged this responsibility for years. I’ve heard that around 75% of people have a fear of public speaking. When you add in the fears we have surrounding God-talk—saying pretty-sounding God things—this number might sky-rocket to 95%.
The thing that sticks out to me about this time of year, though, is how many people need a prayer. Some of our friends and family only pray once or twice a year—around the holiday table. Some are approaching the holiday feeling lonely, fearful and depressed. Some are facing sickness and loss. Praying out loud isn’t just important at holiday meals. It becomes important when we bump into other congregants in the narthex, or meet up with our friends for lunch, or when we get a call from a friend facing the holiday season, or when we see someone at the grocery store in distress. Maybe more than any other time of the year, people need a word of hope through prayer.
My charge to you this week is to have the courage to be willing to put aside those awkward societal norms in order to share the love of Jesus with them through praying out loud for them. Scripture promises God will show up when we pray… even if we feel like Jesus dorks. Romans 8:26 reads: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Pray from the heart—pray with the voice God has given you—God will show up.
Still have questions, want tips/tricks or want me to look over a prayer you want to share with another? Feel free to email me at katherine.ebling@cor.org.
– Rev. Katherine Ebling Frazier, Pastor of Prayer
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