Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Our loves can be disordered, but by praying, we echo Song of Songs asking Jesus to “Set love in order in me.”

“O Lord come and make me love the things you would have me love.”
Come make me love things in the order in which I ought to love them.
When we re-focus our thoughts and energy on God in prayer,
We remove the distractions and temptations of the world around us,
which helps us act from a more centered, spirit-filled place.
Regular prayer forms our imaginations, hearts, and guts

Find a quiet place and set aside some time for intentional prayer. If 20 minutes seems too much, set your phone timer for 5, 10, or 15 minutes.

Follow this simple prayer:

Five-Finger Prayer
Thumb – pray for those closest to me
Pointing finger – pray for those who guide us: teachers, doctors, clergy, counselors, social workers, mentors
Middle finger (tallest one) – pray for those who stand tall: government, civic, and business leaders, police and firefighters
Ring finger (your weakest finger) – pray for those who are weak: the poor, sick, infirm, infants, homeless, and the powerless
Pinkie (the smallest, the least) – pray for me and my needs

 

Reflections inspired by Christopher Martin, an Episcopal priest, writer, pastor, and founder of The Restoration Project, a nationwide movement that helps people deepen their faith.