Wednesday, March 20: Praying for God's Children

Begin your prayer time by lighting a candle or by ringing the opening bell in the right hand column at the website here. Allow the ringing of the bell to draw you into sacred space with God. Take a few deep breaths, breathing in God's love and presence, breathing out any distractions, plans or worries.

Lord, Jesus Christ, teach me to pray.

Prepare yourself for the reading of the Psalm by quieting yourself and becoming aware of God's presence. Ask God to speak to you through the scripture. Read the scripture through two time, slowly and prayerfully.

A Reading from the Gospel according to Mark [10:13-16]

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them.  But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.  Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”  And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

In the scripture today, we can see how very much Jesus valued the children.  They were indeed “precious in his sight” as the old children’s hymn reminds us.  All around the world today children are sick, hungry, neglected and abused.  How Jesus’ heart must be aching. And so should ours.  

I invite you to make the next 24 hours an entire day of prayer for the children of the world.  As we pray together, let’s hold each child in the world as tenderly and lovingly as Jesus does in this scripture passage today.  

Prayer Practice:  Make an intention to try to really notice and attend to all of the children that come into your life today.  Whether you are at home, work, school, the grocery store, mall, or even on television, make a point of paying attention to the children that you see.  As you notice them, silently bless them in your heart and mind.  If they are your own children, place a loving hand on them or take them in your lap  and bless them as Jesus did.  You may also offer a blessing from a distance for children that you don’t know or cannot touch.  A simple way to bless them is to lovingly say, “May God protect you and give you all good things.”  Attempt to open your heart to them and offer the love of God that flows through you.  

Some of us may not come into contact with children during our day.  If you do  not, I invite you to practice blessing using the television, newspaper, or magazines.  You can find images of children almost anywhere you look.  Use these images to allow you to offer blessings to the children that so desperately need our love and our care, whether they be here in Alaska, the United States, or all around the world.  

Make an intention now to try your best to bless and pray for all of the children that God brings into your life in the next 24 hours.  To help yourself remember place a note on your computer, your phone, or somewhere in your space where you will see it frequently.  

And remember, children are  everyone under the age of eighteen.  Teens and young adults desperately need our blessings and prayers as well.  Begin this day of prayer by spending 4-5 minutes praying for all of the children of the world, both near and far.  

For your journal:  Who are the children who are most urgently on your heart today?  List the names of children or world situations for which you would like to keep praying.  How might God be calling you to act on behalf of children?