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6 Simple Prayers to Increase Summer Fun

Summer is a special season, and it calls for special prayers. Whether yearning for a vacation, wishing for better hiking weather or worrying about wearing a bathing suit, here are six prayerful ways to deal with your summer-time emotions:

1) Find a Pocket of Rest
“Hey God, I thought summer was vacation time. How come I don’t feel at peace? I’m busier than ever! Rest, I know is the answer. Help me find rest in those in-between moments. Like when I’m stopped at a stoplight or stuck in traffic or put on hold on the phone. I’ll use those times to look for You.”

2) Settle for Imperfect
“Don’t let it rain on the one day we’re all going for a hike. We want PERFECT weather. We want the sun to shine when we go to the beach and no squalls for that picnic we planned. PERFECT weather all summer. Okay, maybe that’s not possible. If it’s not perfect, we promise to savor it anyway. Sometimes a sudden squall at the beach can be fun. Right?”

To buy a copy of Rick’s latest book, Prayer Works, click here.

3) Learn to Forget
“Please, please, please, God, let the family all get along. We do these family reunions so infrequently. Why, when I see my long-lost cousin or sibling or great-aunt, do I suddenly remember that terrible thing they said all those years ago? Help me forget it. It doesn’t have to bug me anymore. This summer, I’m moving on.”

4) Withhold Bathing Suit Judgment
“I want to swim in the lake. I want to lounge in the sun without worrying about what others are saying. Here’s what I promise. I’m not going to making any judgmental thoughts about how THEY look. Got that? All judgments gone. For the summer.”

5) Surprise Yourself at Church
“Jesus, I’m sure You will understand if I sleep in on Sunday morning. Isn’t it okay to skip church in the summer? There are not as many people. No one will notice. They’ll think I’m away. Well…maybe I’ll drop in a couple of times this summer. Just for fun. Just to surprise people. Or maybe to surprise myself.”

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6) Don’t Count the Days
“I promise not to count the days. Or weeks. Or months. Every day this summer will feel like a special day. Because every day is special. They all have opportunities in them. You, God, will help me see the opportunities. Even if it’s just to pick some fresh berries off a bush or savor an ice cream cone or call that friend I haven’t seen for months. Summer fun.”

5 Prayers to Help You Transition to a New Season

For most of my life, I lived in a region that experienced all four seasons—winter, spring, summer and fall. For the last few years, however, I’ve lived in the desert where the seasons are warm, hot and hotter.

Regardless of where you live, or even the date on the calendar, you may be entering a new season. Maybe it’s a new job or relationship. Maybe your nest is empty. You might be welcoming a new child or just assumed the role of caregiver to a spouse or parents.

Anytime we exit or enter a new season of life, it can feel upsetting. Disorienting. Even depressing. At such times, it’s good to remember that just as God was in control in our “springtime,” He is no less in control when fall or winter arrive. The prophet Daniel said:

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning (Daniel 2:21 NIV).

Such knowledge can be comforting, as God’s Word often is. But even more so, prayer can help us transition into a new season like nothing else. For that reason, let me suggest five to pray—and perhaps memorize and repeat as often as necessary—whenever you embark on a new season:

1) Joshua’s Charge
It must have been incredibly daunting for Joshua to face a new season of leadership and prominence when his mentor, Moses, died. So God spoke to Joshua in words that we can use to strengthen and embolden ourselves when we come to a new crossroads:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

2) Gideon’s Comfort
The son of Joash the Abiezrite was literally hiding from Israel’s oppressors when the angel of the Lord appeared and called him to a new season in his life—he would faithfully lead God’s people to a new era of freedom. I’ve often prayed the angel’s words to Gideon, especially when, perhaps like Gideon, I’ve felt ill-equipped to face my circumstances. It’s an affirmation to repeat as often as necessary as you enter a new season:

“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” (Judges 6:12).

3) David’s Song
We don’t know in what situation David, the shepherd king, penned the verses of Psalm 1. But the story of his life seems to have been a nearly constant turning from one new season to another, from shepherd boy to giant killer to court musician to fugitive to warrior to king. No wonder that his songs help at the turnings of our lives. Like this one:

Lord, as I face this change, make me “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither,” and grant favor and prosperity in whatever I do (Psalm 1:3 NIV).

4) The Beloved’s Enjoyment
Some seasons are better than others, but whatever season you’re facing, God can call beauty even out of grief and hardship. You might adapt the song of the beloved from the Song of Solomon as your prayer:

God, by your mighty grace, make this season of my life like that wondrous moment when “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance” (Song of Songs 2:12-13 NIV).

5) Mary’s Affirmation
Has anyone ever faced a new and unexpected season like that which the angel announced to Mary of Nazareth when he told her she would be the mother of Jesus, the long-awaited Christ? How her head must have spun as all expectations for her future changed in an instant. Your new season may not feel that disorienting (or maybe it does), but Mary’s affirmation may be something you meditate on and repeat often through your own twists and turns:

“I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” and will (Luke 1:38 ESV).

You may choose to adopt one of these “new season prayers” as your own, or alternate or combine them as you work through the changes you face. Perhaps one of the above prayers suggested a different prayer to you. In any case, I hope these prayers, like the coming of autumn, bring beauty, color and refreshment to your heart, mind and life.

4 Simple Prayers for Fall

In the rhythms of His Creation, God graciously placed cues and reminders that can regularly turn His people to prayer: morning and evening; Sabbath and work; winter, spring, summer and fall. Now is the perfect time to turn to prayers for fall.

Though we modern folk—with our electric lighting and temperature controls, among other things—are less sensitive to such prompts as previous generations, with just a little effort we can still let the changing seasons point us to prayer . . . as these simple prayers are intended to do.

The first three autumn prayers are written by me (the third with an assist by Emily Dickinson) and the fourth autumn prayer is unattributed:

1)  Autumn Praise

I praise you, Lord, for autumn:
for falling temperatures and morning chill,
trees turned gold and red, brown and orange,
falling leaves and blowing leaves,
the smell of burning leaves,
the joy of leaf-pile jumping.

I praise you, Lord, for autumn:
the interplay of outside temperatures
and inside warmth,
the promise of cider and pumpkin bread,
the blessing of blankets and sweaters.

I praise you, Lord, for autumn:
the beauty and hope in the change of season,
the promise that the coming of autumn
heralds another ending,
a new beginning,
and the wonder of another winter,
another spring,
another summer,
yet to come.

2)  A Powerful Prayer for Fall

Abba, Father, the trees are ablaze with your glory.
The seasons change, but you never do.
You are always beautiful,
in the green and freshness of spring
as in the golds and reds and chills of autumn.
Make me like you.
Let my life reflect your beauty,
season after season,
as the calendar of my life turns and turns and turns.

The trees are letting go of this year’s foliage.
Help me let go of both blessings and burdens,
and surrender them both to your loving care.

Fallen leaves pattern the ground with variety.
So design my own fallings and failings
into whatever design will please you most.
In Jesus’ name, I pray,

Amen.

3)  An Simple Autumn Petition Prayer

As summer into autumn slips,*
O give me grace today
To rise and turn as summer’s leaves
Draw life and strength from heavenly rays.

(*first line from Emily Dickinson)

4)  An Autumn Prayer Poem

When I must go, dear God, please let it be
A golden autumn day; when red leaves fall,
When purple grapes in shining clusters hang
And bittersweet glows bright against the wall,

When o’er the barren fields and russet meads
Their last farewells the crickets cry.
Let me make my silent journey
When the homing birds fly south across the sky.

When I must go, dear God, please let me go
As silently as autumn rain,
As still as lacy shadows ‘neath the willow trees,
As calm as is the moon above the hill.

So let me go—and may there be no grief
When life is done and I must say goodbye.
I’ll take my leave with flowers and falling leaf
And lie in peaceful sleep beneath the sky.

-Anonymous

What are your favorite prayers for fall?

4 One-Word Prayers for Finding Calm

Few of us ever manage to live a complete day of peace, especially when there is a crisis or we face an uncertain future. We fight traffic, race the clock and filter seemingly countless, competing,  voices. We crave a little calm, a few moments of peace, even the tiniest island of tranquility from time to time.

But how? Where can we turn to find a few moments of sanity-restoring calm in the midst of our otherwise crazy lives? We can pray. A simple prayer—even a single word—can sometimes soothe our savaged spirits. Try one of these:

1) “Come”

A frequent phrase on the lips—and pens—of the Bible’s songwriters was “come quickly, Lord, to help me” (Psalm 40:13, NIV). Taking a moment—even with a single word, “Come”—to invite the Lord into your chaos and stress brings the Prince of Peace into your situation. Into your mind. Into the moment. So, take a breath, close your eyes and say: “Come.”

2) “Slow”

Shakespeare’s story of Romeo and Juliet may have ended much more happily if the young lovers had heeded Friar Laurence’s advice: “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.” That’s the story of our 21st century lives, isn’t it? We run so fast, and stumble so often. So a one-word prayer—“Slow”—is a way of asking God to slow us down, calm our racing hearts and guide our steps.

3)“Quiet”

You probably remember the story of Jesus and His closest followers in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. A furious storm arose, but Jesus had fallen asleep on a cushion in the stern. His panicked followers awakened Him. The Bible says, “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm” (Mark 4:39, NIV).

You may not be able to command winds and waves, but you can say, “Quiet.” It may be a plea to God. It may be a command to your own mind and heart. You may need to say it repeatedly, but either way, it can provide a path to peace and calm.

4) “Now”

Most of us spend a great deal of time thinking about the future or replaying the past. Both can be stressful. And both remove us from the present and cheat us of the full blessing of this life, this day, this moment—this “now.” 

So, try praying the single, simple word “now” as a way of awakening yourself to the beauty of your own life, as a way of fully breathing in and breathing out the blessing of being alive…now. Whatever the past has been and whatever the future may hold, “now” is a gift, and praying that single word can be a helpful way to focus and calm your mind and heart, right here, right now.

Four words. Short. Sweet. Simple. But when we pray them mindfully, they can be just what our hectic and harried lives need most.

7 Spring Prayers for Hope and New Beginnings

The spring season symbolizes hope and new beginnings. The freezing winter months begin to fade, and the world welcomes new plant life, from wildflowers to flourishing trees. Soon we’ll be celebrating Easter, the day marking the resurrection of Christ. One of the best ways to fully appreciate this time of year is to include some spring prayers in your prayer life.

READ MORE: 20 Bible Verses About Spring and New Life

May these spring prayers and tips for praying during spring lead you through this season with joy, inspiration and a closer relationship with God.

5 Ways to Say Your Spring Prayers

Spring can be a great time for spring cleaning, starting new projects, or even refreshing your prayer life. Try these new ways to pray during the spring season:

Woman sitting on a park bench saying her spring prayers

1. Pray in a Garden

Saying your prayers in a new location can be a great way to revitalize your practice and get a new perspective on life. This spring, make a habit of praying amongst the flowers. Go into your own garden, a public park, or a local community garden and find a spot to connect with God. Pick a spot that is comfortable where you can have a little quiet. As you pray, slowly breathe in and out. Savor the scent of life around you—from the nourishing soil to the fragrance of the flowers. Remember that everything around you was made by God, just like you.

READ MORE: 25 Joyful Spring Quotes to Inspire You

Woman in yellow saying her spring prayers in front of a window

2. Pray by the Window

If you can’t make it out to the garden or park, you can still focus on your prayer time by making a comfortable and inspiring prayer spot in your home. Consider making yours next to a window so you can look out over God’s creation—like the budding flowers, the new green of the trees, and the returning birds. Make the space comfortable with a good chair and pillows. Bring your Bible or devotional to help you pray. Maybe even add a vase of flowers or houseplants to lighten up the space and truly bring you into the spring mindset.

A young mom says her spring prayers while she pushes her daughter in a stroller

3. Pray While You Walk

With warmer weather finally here, spring is the perfect time to begin or restart your daily walks. Whether you walk in the morning or after a busy day at work, dedicate this time to prayer. As you focus on your steps and breathing, you’ll be surprised how naturally a talk with God will come to fruition. Let the world around you guide your prayers. If you see the tree on your block beginning to finally grow green, thank God for the nature around us that brings us joy and keeps us alive. If you pass by your neighbors, wave hello and say a prayer for them and their family.

READ MORE: Celebrate Spring with These Uplifting Books and Devotionals

a candle for saying spring prayers surrounded by lilac flowers

4. Pray with a Candle

The spring season can be a hectic time. Between school schedules, spring cleaning, and outdoor activities starting up again, it can be difficult to find time to sit down and focus on your prayers. Even if you find the time, your thoughts might drift to busy schedules and errands while you pray. Try using a candle while you pray to keep your attention on your time with God. Here is how to pray with a candle:

  • Find a quiet spot in your home where you can be alone, even for a few minutes.
  • Let your mind slow as you light the candle
  • As you pray, focus on the flame of the candle and its movements.
  • If you feel your thoughts going astray, simply bring your attention back to the flame and pick up your prayers where you left off.
  • Be sure to blow the candle out when you are done and set it aside for the next time you need a moment of prayer.
Woman saying her spring prayers while facing up into the rain

5. Pray When It Rains

“April showers bring May flowers,” goes the saying. If there’s one thing spring has a lot of, it’s rain. While you may long for the clear days of summer, you can use the rainy spring season to commit to praying more often. Make a prayer habit of praying every time it rains. Every time you hear those raindrops hit the window, step away from your work or chores to say a spring prayer. Even just taking a few minutes to check in with God can make a world of difference. Soon you’ll find yourself getting excited when the forecast calls for yet another day of rain.

READ MORE: How to Pray Effectively

7 Spring Prayers

Man with his arm outstretched saying his spring prayers outside

1. A Biblical Spring Prayer

God, by your mighty grace, make this season of my life like that wondrous moment when “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.” —Bob Hostetler (based on Song of Songs 2:12-13)

READ MORE: 16 Spring Activities for Couples, Families, Kids

Young woman standing in a field saying her spring prayers

2. A Short Spring Prayer

Lord, as I face this change, make me “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither,” and grant favor and prosperity in whatever I do. —Bob Hostetler (based on Psalm 1:3)

Woman with her eyes closed saying her spring prayers while she drinks coffee

3. A Spring Poem Prayer

For flowers that bloom about our feet;

For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;

For song of bird, and hum of bee;

For all things fair we hear or see,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

For blue of stream and blue of sky;

For pleasant shade of branches high;

For fragrant air and cooling breeze;

For beauty of the blooming trees,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

—Ralph Waldo Emerson (from “We Thank Thee”)

Woman outside saying her spring prayers over her bible

4. A Spring Prayer Canticle

Sun and cloud, bless the Lord.

Dew and rain, bless the Lord.

Flower and weed, bless the Lord.

Breeze and bird, bless the Lord.

Mist and meadow, bless the Lord.

Sunrise and sunset, bless the Lord.

Light and darkness, bless the Lord.

—Bob Hostetler

Man saying his spring prayers at his work desk and laptop

5. A Spring Prayer Hymn

Lord, afford a spring to me,

Let me feel like what I see;

Speak, and by your gracious voice,

Make my drooping soul rejoice.

On your garden deign to smile,

Raise the plants, enrich the soil;

Soon your presence will restore

Life to what seemed dead before.

—John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace”

Woman with her arms raised saying her spring prayers in the middle of a field

6. A Spring Prayer to Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown. Fair is the snowfall, fairer still the snowmelt, that heralds all the joys of spring; Jesus, you’re fairer, Jesus, you’re purer, you make the woeful heart to sing. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host; You, Lord, shine brighter, you shine far purer than all the angels heaven can boast. All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly, wondrously, Jesus, is found in thee; none can be nearer, fairer or dearer, than you, my Savior, are to me. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forever more be Thine. —Author Unknown

Woman reading spring prayers in her old Bible

7. Spring Prayer from the Psalms

How many are Your works, Lord! In wisdom You made them all; You make springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. You water the mountains from Your upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of Your work. You make grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that You planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. How many are Your works, Lord! In wisdom You made them all. —Bob Hostetler (based on Psalm 104)

READ MORE PRAYERS:

3 Ways to Plant Spring Prayers

Spring is a special time of year. A time of new beginnings. A time for opening windows, turning soil, planting seeds.

It is also an ideal time for praying. In fact, prayer can be especially invigorating during this season by attaching it to three activities in particular.

1. Seed Prayers
Jesus once told a parable about a sower who scattered seeds on different types of soil. In His story, the seeds represented words (see Mark 4:14). So one way to pray this spring is to make the seeds you plant—whether in a planter, a garden or field—into prayers. You might attach a name to each seed, praying for a different person as you poke the seed into soil. Or you might pray a different prayer with each different kind of seed you plant—say, a prayer of praise as you plant flowers, intercession for others as you plant vegetables, etc.

2. Feed Prayers
Spring is also a great time to feed birds and other wild animals. So you may wish to fill your bird feeder as you pray, “God, just as you feed the birds of the air who do not sow or reap or store away in barns, please provide my family’s needs” (see Matthew 6:26). Or you might scatter bread or crackers for wildlife while praying for the hungry. Or donate to a food pantry or soup kitchen along with a prayer for those in need. Or better yet, volunteer as a cook or server at a feeding program near you.

Read More: All God’s Gifts

3. Good Deed Prayers
One of the best prayers you can offer is to reach out and do something kind for another human being. Take a plate of cookies to a new neighbor with a prayer for their home on a note card. Visit a friend in the hospital or nursing home and pray (silently or audibly) for comfort and healing. Write and send a prayer to a service member on overseas duty. Pick up trash on a roadside or in a parking lot while praying Psalm 51:10 (“Create in me a clean heart, O God”). Call someone who is lonely. Leave an extra-generous tip for your restaurant server as a prayer for his or her well-being.

You may want to alternate “seed prayers,” “feed prayers” and “good deed prayers” over the course of the next few days or weeks. Or you may try to include one each in your routine every day. Whatever you choose, it takes just a little extra effort—and brings much extra blessing—to spring into prayer.

10 Questions to Consider During Lent

When you think of spring, you probably think of the re-awakening of flowers and trees, new beginnings, April showers, spring break, spring cleaning and Easter.

But Lent is also a very important part of springtime.

For Christians, Lent is sort of a spring cleaning for the soul. It’s a season when God wants us to examine ourselves and meditate on Him, His Word and His plan for our lives.

So, I challenge you to take time during these weeks leading up to Easter and ponder these 10 questions during your moments with the Master.

You might even print ouy this page and place it in your Bible or on your refrigerator or on your car’s sun visor.

Place it where you’ll see it every single day, and spend time honestly and earnestly contemplating these important points.

1) Am I openly, honestly and enthusiastically sharing the message of Jesus Christ with unsaved family members and those I encounter in everyday life?

2) Do I have a gracious and patient attitude with the people in my life?

3) Do I look for the best in others, or do I have a judgmental attitude?

4) Am I spending enough time studying His Word and praying?

5) Do I have a thankful heart, or am I constantly complaining about situations and people in my life?

6) What are the lurking sin problems that still tempt me?

7) Do I speak up for the less fortunate, or do I remain silent and inactive?

8) Do I stand up for my Christian beliefs, or do I compromise my faith in order to be politically correct?

9) What is God dealing with me about right now–exercising to improve my health? Spending more time studying His Word? Going back to school to further my education? Answering the call to go to the mission field?

10) When people look at me, do they see a reflection of Jesus?

Pray this with me:

Father, help me to focus more on You during this season, and help me to hear from You more clearly than ever before. I want more of You in my life, Lord, and less of me. Thank You for loving me and being patient with me as I grow up spiritually. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

When the Unexpected Strikes

In life, we have no way of knowing what the future holds; only God knows. So when the unexpected happens, we are thrown for a loop. Recently, a friend of mine was told that her mother’s cancer had come back and spread to other parts of her body. This news was shocking to her friends and family. Less than two weeks later, her mother went home to be with the Lord.

The unexpected events in life can leave us emotionally drained, or even worse, depressed. No matter how strong we feel spiritually and emotionally, the unexpected can, and will, knock us down.

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Bible Verses for Depression

When I find myself dealing with the unexpected, I turn to Lamentations 3:20-23, “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” When the unexpected happens, God’s faithfulness will sustain us.

Often we experience God’s mercies in what may appear as small ways, but are much needed in these times. For example, a specific Scripture brings you hope or a friend says something that touches your heart. It’s in daily acts such as these that God’s mercy comes to us. What has gotten you through an unexpected event? Please share with us.

Lord, let me see and experience your mercies every day.

The “Runaway Bunny” Psalm

Recently I’d been struggling with the idea that God loves us, all of us, including me. I’ve heard it a million times, even said it myself, but it’s such a huge concept it boggles the mind. Sometimes I can’t get my head around it.

The other day I was rummaging through the boys’ old children’s books. There on the shelf was that classic The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown.

Remember the story? The bunny tells his mother he wants to run away and imagines all the different ways he can do it. But for every strategy, whether by sea, land or air, she has an answer. “I will become a fisherman and I will fish for you,” she says. “I will be a mountain climber and I will climb to where you are…I will be a tree that you come home to.” No matter where he goes, his mother will be there.

I could recall reading the book to the boys before bedtime, repeating those words as I turned each page, two kids in pajamas by my side. The message was clear. My sons weren’t going to outrun my love, no matter how far their adventures took them. Wasn’t that just like God’s love?

Lingering over the pictures now, I turned the well-thumbed pages, thinking of the psalms. As many others have pointed out, the language of The Runaway Bunny is a lot like Psalm 139: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Whither shall I flee from thy presence? … If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

The Psalmist and a children’s book writer had it right. I could exclaim along with the Psalmist and say, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is too high. I cannot attain unto it” (I do believe that putting doubts into a prayer is good spiritual practice). Then I could put myself in bunny mode, and recall the childlike faith of my listeners in their PJs.

No matter how hard you try, you can’t escape God’s love.

Or “have a carrot,” as the mother rabbit says at the end.

The Psalms Teach Us to Pause and Pray

If you’ve ever read much in the Psalms, the prayerbook and hymnal of ancient Israel, you’ve come across a word that gives many Bible scholars pause. Literally.

The word is “selah.” It occurs frequently in the Psalms. For example, it occurs three times in Psalm 3, after verse 2, verse 4 and at the end of the Psalm. It appears twice in Psalm 4, after verses 2 and 4. In fact, “selah” is used 71 times in the Psalms.

But no one knows for sure what the word means. Many think it was a musical instruction, since 31 of the 39 psalms that are addressed “To the choirmaster” use the term. Thus, it may have been used to indicate a musical interlude or pause in the music.

Whatever “selah” meant to ancient Israelites, it can be a part of your prayer life. You can turn pauses into prayer. For example, as you end a phone call in the middle of your workday, pause for a moment; inhale deeply as if inviting God’s presence to infill you, and then exhale slowly while imagining Him going ahead of you into the rest of your day.

Or while driving, when you come to a stop sign, instead of rolling through the intersection as you usually do, leave your foot on the brake for a moment while you inhale deeply and exhale slowly.

You can enjoy a “selah moment” before speaking to a friend, coworker or group. You might even interrupt a business meeting or a shopping excursion with such a pause.

Even without words (though of course there’s nothing wrong with adding a spoken prayer at such times), a “selah moment” or two—or more—in the course of your day can increase an awareness of God’s presence and a sense of His closeness.

Such pauses can have an added effect such as relieving stress, increasing your composure or—in the case of the stop sign—avoiding a traffic citation.

Powerful Six-Word Bible Prayers

These 10 prayers from the Bible convey so much in just six words. What’s your favorite six-word prayer?

God is our refuge and strength.
(Psalm 46:1)

Comfort the discouraged. Help the weak.
(I Thessalonians 5:14)

Freely ye have received, freely give.
(Matthew 10:8)

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
(Luke 1:46)

I do not leave you comfortless.
(John 14:18)

Fight the good fight of faith.
(I Timothy 6:12)

But joy comes in the morning.
(Psalm 30:5)

Then said I, Lord, how long?
(Isaiah 6:11)

Make a joyful noise unto God.
(Psalm 66:1)

Consider the lilies of the field.
(Matthew 6:28)

Saying Grace

I had just walked in the door after a long commute from downtown Toronto. The bus had been late, and I was tired. It wasn’t easy working three jobs and raising four active teenagers.

Mine were good kids—three girls and a boy—but they were still a lot to handle. Especially for a single parent. I had hoped to come home and find them all quietly doing their homework. That was the deal. But they were running around with the five next-door neighbor children instead. I sighed.

My oldest daughter rushed up to me. “Mom, can they stay for dinner?”

I didn’t have much planned, just some leftover spaghetti with half a loaf of bread. And only six meatballs. I was already buying on credit from the neighborhood grocer. So a quick shop to fill out the meal wasn’t an option. I put down my things. Tonight of all nights, I thought. I had barely enough to feed my four, but all nine of them?

I looked over at the neighbor children. I knew their family situation. They’d lost their mother only a few weeks earlier and needed all the warmth and support I could give. They needed a mother—if only for a night.

Other people and prayers had seen me through bad times. A medical scare. Separation from myhusband. Finding a home to raise my children in. Angels hadn’t failed me yet, so I trusted them to get me through this too. I went to the kitchen and opened the cupboard. Please, let there be enough. I had a bit of extra pasta.

“Well,” I said to the kids. “This will have to do.” They settled into homework mode while I tried to work a miracle at the stove.

I was still worried when we took our seats to say grace. I didn’t want to send anyone home hungry. At “amen,” the table erupted in a symphony of happy chatter and clinking forks. What a group! They had me laughing so hard, I forgot to keep track of who was eating what.

By the end of the meal I felt so much better than when I had first walked through the door, burdened by my troubles. The children had licked their plates clean. We were all full and happy, and grateful for one another’s company. I moved to clear the table with my oldest daughter. My mouth dropped open. Two meatballs sat uneaten on the platter. How was that possible?

My daughter put her hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong, Mom?”

“Did everybody eat?”

“It was delicious!” the youngest neighbor boy said. “The best meatballs we ever had. If you have any leftovers, can we take them home?”

I was astonished. How had I managed to feed everyone? Had the kids cut the meatballs in half? Maybe some of them had only eaten pasta. Or had had a big lunch. There was no logic to it. There hadn’t been enough food at the beginning of the meal, and by the end of it everyone was full. We must have had unseen company, I thought as I said goodbye to the kids. Angels had shared our dinner.

That night left me with an overflowing heart and great hope for the future. I sent the leftovers home with the neighbor children for lunch the next day. Things were hard now, but they would get better. For us. For the neighbor children. Because when you dine with angels, there is always enough to go around.

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