“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

“You are in my prayers.” Has somebody told you that recently? It doesn’t matter to me if one person, three people or a congregation is praying for me; it is still a comforting and rich blessing. The young boy in the attached photo attends the school at Bois Marchand and he prays for you; his school gives thanks in prayer for you.

Our Lord Jesus is present when His people gather together to pray. The common prayer and fellowship is so important to their spiritual lives. When this young child prays before going to sleep on the mat on the floor his relationship with our Heavenly Father is precious. When you and I pray for the children attending Christian schools in Haiti our common requests to feed these sheep is heard, daily. The hymn ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ was written by Joseph Scriven in 1865 and his words seemed like a very good match for this devotion.

“What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry ev'rything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry ev'rything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a Friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our Refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; in His arms He'll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.”

Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

May God be with you,

Jay