Then I Pray

A Reflection on the Second Reading for November 3rd, 2019:
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-2:2

1 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

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We cannot do it alone. I know this in my head but it just doesn’t reach my heart and soul all the time. I think I can do it all and if I can’t, well then I just might throw in the towel. Sometimes I not only feel that I cannot run the race, but that I don’t want to run the race. Then I pray; not asking for anything but His presence. He is all I need and I believe it. That this doesn’t stick but has to be done over and over again, new every morning, means I don’t give up. And, I ask for prayer, and I pray for others. Intercessory prayer is a longing to move another’s heart toward the only One who can meet all our needs. If Jesus is not “glorified” in me, how can He be known by those for whom I pray. I need, we all need, humility, to come to the realization and knowledge that holding on to our sin and our control and our feeling that we will never be holy, is pride of a sort. I, I, I… too much "I"!! In real estate there are three important things: location, location, location. In life there are three important things: Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus.

"Intercessory prayer is a longing to move another’s heart toward the only One who can meet all our needs."

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Saint Paul prayed earnestly for everyone he encountered, not just those who were close to him. The early Christians believed Jesus was returning soon; probably in their lifetime, but they were to keep watch, pray, and discern, and not be anxious for anything. We also are to live like that. He will return and establish a new heaven and a new earth. The Kingdom of God is within us. He’s coming back, and He’s already here. Amen!


Judy Savoy

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