I’d been sitting on the dock with Hank, praying and thinking it was past time to go up and dress, when my phone pinged with another call to prayer. Only this one signaled a corporate moment that has become so sweet I need to share it with you.

Months ago now, the girls at my home church were going through a study by Bible teacher Kristi McLelland when she gave us a challenge based on a historical account of what God’s people did in the years after the crucifixion of Christ when their faith in the risen Savior led to them being persecuted and scattered throughout the Greek and Roman world. The new believers would pray at set times during the day, and knowing their friends were praying with them encouraged them and gave them strength. Kristi’s original challenge was for us to set our phones for 9:00, 12:00, and 3:00 and say the Lord’s Prayer when the alarm sounded for one full week. A lot of us did it. Many of us have never stopped.

I’ve since shared this idea with my family and believing friends from other circles who have consequently joined us, and many of them have told their friends, who loved and adopted the idea. And so it goes, and grows.

It’d take a hot minute to list all the benefits I’ve found in this corporate moment of prayer. Here are a couple.

Knowing my friends are acknowledging God and praying at the same time I am encourages me when it seems the whole world has gone straight running crazy.

I expected that. Here’s another benefit I didn’t see coming.

When my reminder bings in public I tell anyone I’m with about it and invite them to join me. I’ve not had a single person turn me down. It may happen but as of this writing it has not. Maybe it’s because most people know the Lord’s Prayer? Maybe it’s because they know there’s a beginning and an end and I’m not about to try and have a lengthy church service in the aisle of the big box store? Whatever their reasons, I’ve been joined by contractors and plumbers, Uber drivers and seat-mates on flights, clerks and fellow shoppers, you get the idea. This past week six campers at Pops and Keggie Kamp joined me in this prayer rhythm.

And now I’m inviting you. Blessings await, friend.

Hugs,

Shellie