Page 49 – Guideposts Articles

How to Pray for Those on the Front Lines

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

While many of us are sheltering in place and self-quarantining to help stop the spread of Covid-19, others are on the front lines, healing and helping in often heroic ways. To offer our spiritual support and appreciation for all their work, here are easy and effective daily prayers to offer for those serving us in this difficult time.

For Doctors, Nurses and Hospital Personnel
God our Father, in these dangerous times, please watch over the medical professionals—doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, nursing home staff and others—who are on the front lines of this pandemic. As they care for the sick and injured, they place themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others. Supply their needs for protective gear and effective equipment. Protect them from infection and shield them from exhaustion. Amen.

For Paramedics, Police, Firefighters and Military Forces
Heavenly Father, we who practice “social distancing” for our own health and the health of others call on you on behalf of those who can’t protect themselves: paramedics, police, firefighters and military forces. As they fulfill their duties and provide for the safety and security of others, please provide for their own safety and security, surrounding them with Your care and the awareness of the public’s gratitude. Amen.

For Grocery Store, Food Service, Pharmacy and Sanitation Workers
Lord, what diligence, courage and stamina have characterized the grocery, restaurant, pharmacy and sanitation workers whose labors have kept us fed and supplied during these strange days. Please bless and keep them. Protect them from disease and also from the rudeness of stressed and thoughtless customers. Grant that their efforts and their faithfulness will be rewarded now and long after this crisis has passed. Amen.

For Truck Drivers and Delivery Personnel
Lord Jesus, You told Your followers, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink” (Matthew 6:25, NIV). It would be much harder to obey those words if it weren’t for the faithful, hard-working truck drivers and delivery personnel who have kept supply chains moving in these fretful times. Bless them in their long hours and long distances with health, hope and safe return to their own loved ones. Amen.

For Prisoners and Prison Staff
Abba, Father God, Your Word says to “remember those in prison as if You were together with them” (Hebrews 13:3, NIV). Particularly in a time of pandemic, those who are imprisoned and those who staff the prisons are similarly endangered by the spread of an infection they can’t escape. Please surround the vulnerable with Your protection and deliver them all from the dangers both inside and outside the prison walls. Amen.

For Researchers and Manufacturers
Father in heaven, thank You for the many researchers and manufacturers who have already responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with life-saving speed and initiative. Please bless their efforts and increase their numbers. Grant that through their efforts life-saving preventions and remedies will not only be developed and employed, but also that the benefits will abound and improve people’s health and prospects in new ways long after this particular threat has passed. Amen.

These six prayers are only a start, of course, but as we pray these things together, we can hope and believe that God will bring some good out of this pandemic and pray for a future in which people around the world are more mindful of each other and better prepared for whatever new challenges we may face.

How to Pray for Strength Like Nehemiah

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Pablo Diaz

After months of being isolated at home, we are all trying to figure out how to get back to work, to church—how to find the new normal for our lives. The elders of the church where I am pastor are also looking ahead. When can we safely return to campus for worship? We want to be thoughtful and prayerful about the process. I’ve found that one of the best books in the Bible for lessons on rebuilding is the Book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah, often referred to as the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia, was deeply moved by the damage done to Jerusalem and its inhabitants. His heart was with those suffering, and his focus turned to rebuilding the once-great city.

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Nehemiah was also a man of prayer; it shaped who he was and how he lived. He prayed his way into and through the spiritual, social and political problems of his time. He worked and prayed at the same time, trusting God for success.

Nehemiah’s prayers included:

Help for those suffering in Jerusalem
Guidance for when and how to return and rebuild the city
Support from the king so that Nehemiah could leave his position to do God’s work
Success for the work of his heart and hands
Fortitude to handle those who mocked him and tried to discourage him
Strength when his enemies sought to stop him
Encouragement for the people of Jerusalem to seek God’s way

Prayer empowered Nehemiah to push through the obstacles of rebuilding Jerusalem. Every time he talked to God, he was emboldened to lay one more brick on the protective wall he was constructing around the beleaguered city. His confidence grew with each prayer. His enemies couldn’t discourage him. God’s strength ensured the work he started was completed. Favor and success were granted. Nehemiah went from being a cupbearer to governor of Jerusalem.

I can’t help but think of my childhood pastor who faced a huge problem when the church building, which was being renovated, collapsed. Our congregation no longer had a place to worship. He stood in front of the rubble of the building and prayed with the people for strength and faith. His leadership and prayers injected confidence that together we would overcome this setback and build a new house of worship. Three years later, we returned to the place that was once a pile of wreckage and worshipped God.

As we think about what it means to re-enter life after months of isolation, to return to our houses of worship and build a new normal, let’s take a lesson from Nehemiah and pray. It will give us confidence and strength and endurance for the road ahead.

How to Pray for People You Disagree With

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

We live in disturbing times. Sometimes it seems as if division and discord surround us, affecting our nation, our cities, even our churches. Even our minds and hearts. It’s hard to know how to respond. We can try to shout it down. We can try to shut it out.

We can respond with prayer, of course, and often we do. We can pray against chaos. We can pray against those who spread it. But notice what Jesus told His followers:

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“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:44-48, NIV).

Jesus said to pray for our enemies. For some of us, that might be a neighbor or colleague who always seems to criticize or undercut us. For others, it might be a public figure we don’t agree with.

God didn’t say to pray for them to be silenced; He said to pray for God’s blessings on them. He said that we should be like our Father in heaven, who sends the blessings of sunshine and the blessings of rain on everyone, even the evil and the unrighteous. He said that, when we lovingly pray for those who persecute us, we act like children of our perfectly loving God.

In times like this, we might wish Jesus hadn’t said such things. But strange things begin to happen when we pray for those we think of as enemies. We might see a change in them, sure. But if we truly pray for them—for blessings to shine and rain down on them—we will see sooner and deeper changes happening in us. It’s hard to stay offended when we pray for the offender’s deepest wounds. It’s hard to respond unkindly when we’re sincerely praying for God’s kindness to be showered on others. It’s hard to repay hate with hate when we are trying to “love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us].”

Whether God answers your prayers by changing the hearts of others—or only yours—your prayers will be answered.

Try it. Pray lovingly for those who offend and persecute others. And watch what God does.

How to Pray for Everyone

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

Every Monday morning at the Guideposts editorial offices in New York we gather together, as Guideposts editors have since time immemorial, and pray for others. Prayer requests used to come by mail, but today, most come online and what a touching, thrilling, heart-wrenching privilege it is to read what people are going through and how they need God’s help.

Last Monday as we were gathered around that table, reading aloud the different requests, one in particular had me pondering long after I heard it and long after we had prayed. “Pray for everyone,” the person wrote. Was it someone who felt so overburdened with her own needs and other people’s concerns that she just couldn’t list them all? Was it someone so generous that her compassion extended to…everyone?

But how could I just pray for everyone? What was I supposed to pray for them? That they find peace of mind? That they stay in good health? That they have a happy family or a better marriage? That they find the man/woman of their dreams? That everybody at their church gets along? I wished I could find the words beyond, “May everybody be well…”

Later that week a messenger came by the office with a package to deliver. I happened to be at the glass door when he arrived and so I signed for the package, but the young man lingered. Something else was on his mind. After fumbling for words, he said that he was struggling a bit in his faith.

“Take copies of our magazine,” I said, gesturing to the box with free copies that we have at the door. “Take as many as you want. They might help. We have some free books here too…”

“Thanks,” he said. He’d already some copies of our magazine. That seemed to be why he felt he could talk to me, a complete stranger, about his concerns. He paused for a while longer. “Could you pray for me?” he finally said.

“Sure. We gather in the offices every Monday morning to pray for others. What can we pray for?” I waited for a moment, then offered, “Do you want us to pray for your faith?”

“No, that’s okay,” he said. “My faith is good.” He looked down at his feet. I waited at the door. Then he looked back at me. “I just wish I had less unbelief.”

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Less unbelief. What a wonderful request. I knew exactly what he meant. I could pray that for myself. And I could pray that for anyone. Or better yet, for everyone.

You have something you need prayers for? Let us know.

How to Pray for Endurance

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Julia Attaway

My morning walk to work takes me through Central Park, which has been busy lately as construction workers put together viewing stands and pavilions for Sunday’s New York Marathon. This morning the path I usually take was blocked by a crane being used to erect the finish line.

I am not a runner; what I know of endurance comes from years of slogging through the mental health problems of my children and spouse. I have friends who have had to push through seemingly endless physical suffering, affliction, addiction or financial disaster.

In the early years of my difficulties I assumed that if I hunkered down and kept going, eventually my problems would be in the past. My prayers for endurance ran along the lines of, “Please Lord, help me through this.”

There’s nothing terribly wrong with that prayer, of course, except that it’s missing a key element: the “Thy will be done” that Jesus added in the Garden of Gethsemane. If things did not turn out as I hoped, I still needed and wanted to love Jesus anyway. So I changed my prayer to, “Please Lord, help me love you more through this.” That put more emphasis on my relationship with God than on the outcome of my particular problem.

The addition of those three little words also changed my perspective about the nature of the marathon I was running. When I was in agony and exhausted, putting love front and center helped me keep my eyes on the prize. It allowed me to look at painful situations as opportunities to become a bit more like Jesus, who knew suffering on a scale I cannot imagine.

Still, I love the New York City Marathon. I can’t fathom how people can run 26+ miles and can’t imagine myself doing the same. It reminds me that being unable to see how to endure extreme pain and difficulty means just one thing: I can’t see how. There may be a way I don’t see yet. There may not. Whatever the case, I can draw closer to Christ, running the good race and keeping the faith.

How to Pray for Communities Near and Far

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Many of us pray, even daily, for the personal needs and concerns closest to our hearts—marriages, children, grandchildren, finances and so on. But there’s a whole world out there, and that world has never been closer to our lives than it is these days.

The need to pray for the world around us has never been greater. So, what are we to do? How do we pray for our communities, country and even the world?

Among His final words to His closest followers before physically leaving this earth, Jesus gave a commission that can also frame our prayers for communities large or small, near or far away. Call it “praying concentrically.” Big word, I know, but it’s pretty simple. It’s merely following the design Jesus gave His followers when He promised, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NIV).

Jerusalem Prayers
To those first followers of Jesus, Jerusalem was the center of the world, their community. So “Jerusalem Prayers” are prayers for our neighborhood, church and town, like the prayers of the psalmist who sang:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”
For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity. (Psalm 122:6-9, NIV)

That’s a prayer worth praying both for modern Jerusalem and for our own “Jerusalem,” for peace, security and prosperity in our communities.

Judea Prayers
Judea was the region that surrounded Jerusalem, encompassing villages and outposts both rich and poor. So Judea (or Judah) prayers are prayers offered for our region, state or province. Like the psalmist who mentioned both Jerusalem (“Zion”) and Judah, saying:

“God will save Zion
    and rebuild the cities of Judah.
Then people will settle there and possess it;
    the children of his servants will inherit it,
    and those who love his name will dwell there.” (Psalm 69:35-36, NIV)

Judea prayers ask God to bless, preserve, rebuild and improve the region of communities, towns, cities and areas surrounding us—for their homes, farms, businesses, services and more.

Samaria Prayers
That Jesus included Samaria in His commission to His followers is remarkable. The people of Samaria were different. They were “other” people. But Jesus’ love didn’t exclude those with different ideas and different customs, and neither should ours.

So “Samaria Prayers” are prayers offered for those outside of our close—or even contiguous—communities, praying for the peace, security, prosperity and blessing of those communities…as well as greater understanding and interaction between us all, as Jesus demonstrated when He “had to go through Samaria [and] came to a town in Samaria called Sychar” where He met the woman at the well and made her both disciple and evangelist (John 4:4-5, NIV).

“Ends-of-the-Earth” Prayers
The final circle in our concentric prayers is reflected in the phrase Jesus used: “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NIV). We gladden God’s heart when we pray for “the ends of the earth”—those in other countries, continents and cultures. What do we pray? The psalmists can guide us:

—”The ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord.” (Psalm 22:27, NIV)

—”Your name, O God, Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 48:10, NIV)

—”All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52:10, NIV)

—The flock of God “will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.” (Micah 5:4, NIV)

Ends-of-the-earth prayers ask that for the blessings we enjoy to also be showered on them, and for the blessings they enjoy to also come our way. Ends-of-the-earth prayers remember those who live in darkness and those whose light can be a shining example to us. Ends-of-the-earth prayers can bring closer those who are our brothers and sisters, and unite us with those who are far away.

Try it. Try praying according to the design Jesus gave His followers when He promised, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NIV). You may be surprised at how concentric praying changes not only the world but you as well.

How to Pray During Life’s Darkest Moments

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Today’s guest blogger is Sue Schlesman.

Have you ever complained to God? Have you ever cried out to Him in anger? Grief? Frustration? Have you ever felt that desperate?

It might seem unspiritual, but it’s a thoroughly biblical way to pray. It’s called a lament. It’s a prayer from the gut, not the head. Laments escape during the darkest moments of life—after betrayal, loss or grief. Laments require boxes of tissues. They don’t need words.

I’ve lamented a good bit—sometimes months at a time—just processing grief and heartache with the One who understands me best. When I lament, I find someplace quiet to sit in God’s presence, to cry and groan. (Paul says that the Holy Spirit interprets wordless prayers to the Father; see Romans 8:26.) Sometimes I grumble or rage at Him. (Job and Moses did that; see Job 7:7-21 and Exodus 17:4.)

Sometimes I form questions that never get answered. (David was a pro at this; see Psalm 13:1-2.) Even Jesus cried out in desperation, quoting David’s words in Psalm 22:1-2. This is lamenting.

Ultimately, a lament is a prayer that acknowledges one’s dependence and vulnerability. It requires faith to cry out—not just cry—and helps release anxiety over things we cannot control.

Here are a few things you can include in a lament:

How you feel—why you’re upset, worried, afraid, angry or hurt
What you believe about God—who He is and what He has already promised you
What you expected Him to do that He hasn’t done (at least, not yet)

God doesn’t necessarily provide the answers you want. He is the answer. And He will lead you through the darkness, by the hand, until you come into the light again. You will learn how to hope and believe again after you’ve spent some time in this lamentation zone.

And you will change. How? By crying out to God, you are shifting from depending on just you to depending on Him and His plan for you, even though you don’t know what that plan is. (Hint: the plan is actually you.)

This is the miracle of the lament. It’s the change that happens within you.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17-18)

How to Pray During a National Crisis

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

We are living in uncertain times. The fast, global spread of Covid-19 has caused concern, claimed lives and brought parts of daily life in countries and communities across the world to a standstill. The tragedy—and resultant panic—unfolds daily in newscasts and online.

Many leaders have called for prayer in this time of crisis. But how do we pray? What do we pray? And for whom?

More than 70 years ago, Christian author and speaker C. S. Lewis wrote an essay “On Living in an Atomic Age,” when Cold War tensions and nuclear proliferation concerned many.

He wrote:

The first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes, find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds. (Present Concerns by C.S. Lewis, Harvest Books, 1987)

I’m glad that Lewis mentioned “praying” first in his list of “sensible and human things” we can do in times of crisis. Prayer is primary at such times, especially since it can encourage, enable and empower all of the other “sensible and human things” we undertake. But how then should we pray?

I’m no expert. Like everyone else in this strange moment, I’m figuring things out on the fly. But I do have several suggestions:

Pray the Psalms.
Praying God’s word is always a good idea, but especially when it’s hard to find words that fit our situation. Here’s a short list of Psalms to pray in times of crisis: 4, 6, 13, 16, 18, 23, 27, 31, 34, 42, 46, 57, 62, 67, 86, 90, 91, 121, 130, 131, 139. That’s just a partial list!

Pray for those who are most at risk of infection.
If you’re young, healthy and able to self-quarantine, you’re among the fortunate ones. So, in addition to praying for your own health and well-being, pray for those who must provide “essential services” (like doctors, nurses, law enforcement, etc.), those whose age or compromised immune systems make them more vulnerable or those who are homeless and unable to find shelter.

Pray for those most affected by changing conditions.
Yes, these are trying times—for some of us more than others. Parents of school children who face childcare challenges or risk losing their jobs. Hourly wage earners and service providers who face a crippling loss of income. Patients of hospitals and nursing homes who are no longer allowed visitors. As much as we may be struggling, there are others who are even more affected.

Pray for health to triumph…
…over disease, order over disorder, compassion over conflict, community over division, reason and resolve over panic.

Pray for our institutions.
For the world’s national, state and provincial, and local government officials who are making difficult decisions. For industries that must weather shortages and shutdowns—or insolvency. For families who must find new ways to function. For churches and agencies for whom “social distancing” challenges the very reason they exist.

Pray for “the end of the matter.”
The Bible says, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 7:8, NIV). Pray for good—even unexpected, unimaginable good—to result when the crisis has passed. Maybe even pray not for a return to normal but for a “new normal,” one that is better than what existed before we all had to stop, reassess, rearrange and rebuild. Pray for you and those around you to discover new joy and appreciation for “praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts.” Or something like that.

Whatever the external outcome, turning to prayer can bring some internal peace during trying times.

How to Pray Big—Really Big

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Like many people, I’ve prayed since childhood. I pray for many things: parents, children, grandchildren, my job, my aches and pains, safe travel and more.

But years ago I took a prayer retreat at a real, live monastery and learned a new way of praying. A bigger way. The monks, who met for prayer and worship seven times a day, considered a key part of their ministry to be prayer for the world outside the monastery walls. They prayed big prayers, believing that though they were cloistered, their prayers would extend and ascend far beyond the boundaries of their own lives.

That example started me on a journey, and I’m still on it. I’m praying big. Here are just a few examples:

For Nations and People Around the World
God, You reign over the nations (Psalm 47:8), and Your will is for all peoples on earth to be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Thank You for the nation I call home, even as I pray for people far and wide to know You and the blessings of family, freedom, justice, prosperity, health, community, safety and productivity. Bring about greater freedom and blessing in all the nations of the world and greater understanding and cooperation among them. Amen.

For Churches Around the World
Jesus, You prayed with Your disciples and for Your disciples through the ages, according to John 17. I believe that You’re praying still, so I join You in praying for Your church: protect all churches by the power of Your name, that they may be one, across all lines, national, denominational, ethnic and racial. Grant that Your people may have the full measure of Your joy within them. Protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. Grant that they may be brought to complete unity. Let Your love dwell in them and flow through them, that they may be recognized by their love—for You, each other and the world. Amen.

For Nature and Natural Disasters
Lord, the heavens declare Your glory (Psalm 19:1), and the earth is Yours and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). Thank You for the beauty of Creation, for the wonders of nature. Those wonders can be fearsome, though, so I pray for You to turn back hurricanes and tornadoes, mitigate volcanic eruptions and destructive wildfires, defuse earthquakes, floods, droughts and tsunamis, sparing wildlife and human life and property from the destruction they would otherwise bring. Say, “Peace, be still,” to the cycles and processes of this amazing world You’ve created. Amen.

Against Wars and Oppression
Father, Your word says that You make wars cease to the ends of the earth, that You break the bow, shatter the spear and burn the shields with fire (Psalm 46:9). Where there is war, make it cease. Where there is violence, make it cease. Where there is oppression, make it cease. Where there is terrorism, make it cease. Bring peace, bring justice, bring healing and hope. Amen.

For Victims
God, Your word says that You are “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows” (Psalm 68:5, NIV); “In you the orphan finds mercy” (Hosea 14:3, ESV). You hear the cries of all who are in need, and You bend Your ear to the prayers of victims. Please protect those who are in danger. Deliver the abused, the trafficked, the marginalized, the malnourished, the injured, the broken. Prove the truth of Your word, that says “You, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; You consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to You” (Psalm 10:14, NIV). Amen.

For Industries and Professions
Lord, so much of modern life depends on the effective work of so many industries and professions. Bless the workers and artisans who labor for the good of others, those who work with hands, those who toil with brains, workers in fields and factories, employers and employees, those who help or heal, those who create and those who clear. Preserve industries that use righteous means and serve righteous ends and frustrate those that don’t. Inspire innovations that will preserve and improve lives. Let Your favor, Lord God, rest on those who do good, establish the work of their hands (Psalm 90:17).

Against Disease
Lord, Your word says that You are “the Lord who heals” (Exodus 15:26, NLT). And Jesus, while You walked on earth, You went about “healing every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 14:23, NIV). So, I pray, do it again. Do it now. Please heal every disease and sickness causing suffering and death among the people today. Visit Your healing power on those in the hospital, those in palliative care, those who know they’re sick and those who don’t. Remove all sicknesses roaming the earth, to the glory of Your Name, amen.

These are just seven ways to “pray big.” Each one is a prayer of faith—big faith. They may require more faith than you think you have right now, but if you pray them—as you pray them—feel these prayers extending and ascending far beyond the boundaries of your own life…and that, in itself, may be an answer to prayer.

How to Overcome Prayer Paralysis

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Peola Hicks

Prayer paralysis is a phrase I use to describe the act of praying and praying but never getting up to do what the Lord reveals during prayer time.

It sometimes sounds spiritual to say, “I will pray about it,” even when it is clear what action we should take. When my children ask me the same thing over and over again, it is because they are looking for a different answer. I don’t like to admit having this kind of inclination myself, because it can reflect negatively upon me. But that’s exactly why I wanted to give it a name, so that I could find a cure.

Physical paralysis can be permanent, but prayer paralysis can be temporary—if I am aware of its spiritual nature. Fear of the unknown can keep me from acting in faith. Although prayer is an act of faith it means nothing if there is no demonstration. The scripture in James 2 verse 17 says that faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Wow, what a wakeup call. I don’t want my faith to be dead.

Several years ago, I wanted to complete an advanced degree program, so I prayed that God would open a door for me to go back to school. Through connections I found the right school, but I held on to the materials for a long time because I suddenly had cold feet and started to make excuses. My husband and daughters were supportive, but procrastination had settled on my back. All I could see was the possibility of not finishing the program.

God had clearly answered my prayer, and I knew that if He gave me the strength to start He would also provide everything I needed to bring it to completion. Fear was raising its ugly head. Fear is not a fruit of the spirit and therefore I did not want to cultivate it in my life. In order to overcome it and break through the barrier, I needed to complete the application. I did just that, received my acceptance letter and now many years later I am grateful for the experience.

My prayer point today is that God does answer prayer; prayer is not something we do just to relieve tension or pass the time. Prayer is necessary to connect with God’s thoughts and intents so that we can then do the will of God. My challenge for you is to look at the things you have been praying about and see if there is an element of fear keeping you from obeying God. It’s true that we need to wait on God and be clear on what He wants. But we also need to take the time to “go and do what you know the Lord wants from your life.”

God bless you!

How to Observe Lent in a Different Way This Year

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

One of the features of my childhood was a cardboard box on our kitchen table during the Lenten season, to collect all of the loose change in the household. On Good Friday, we took it to church and donated it to a “self-denial” fund that benefited missions. Others in my school and neighborhood fasted or abstained from red meat on Fridays. During Lent many people gave up sugar, negative thoughts, television, or even sarcasm.

Those are fairly common practices, as they help followers of Jesus to observe a season of reflection and repentance for the 40 days (not including Sundays) leading up to Good Friday and Easter. But these days? Sure, reflection and repentance are always a good idea, but many of us have sacrificed more than usual over the past few years. We’ve laid aside plans, trips, family gatherings and more.

So maybe this year, we can observe Lent in a different way—a way that is still helpful and focuses on the meaning of Lent. Maybe this year, instead of giving up something for Lent, we can flip the focus of our prayers and spiritual practices and appreciate what we might gain during this season. Such as what? you ask. Here are four new ways to do Lent this year:

1) Steep Yourself in Quiet

Do you feel as though you’re surrounded by turmoil and assaulted with bad news? Lent can be a season of turning off the tumult and finding ways to meditate on and experience the shepherd’s Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul (Psalm 23:1-2, NIV)

So turn off the newscast. Skip listening to the radio in the car. Maybe sit in a park or city church at midday and listen…to the quiet.

2) Look for a Fresh Perspective

Remember Elijah after his showdown with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18)? He was exhausted. He felt isolated, alone, the last sane voice in the entire nation. But he wasn’t. God spoke and informed Elijah that there were still thousands of faithful souls who could be counted alongside him (see 1 Kings 19:18). This man of God gained a new outlook.

A change in routine—even an unwelcome disruption—can provide a fresh perspective, if we talk it through with God. He will often (as He did Elijah) restore us and point us in a new direction, if we’re listening. So don’t just spend these days leading up to Easter waiting and wailing. Keep asking, seeking and knocking (see Matthew 7:7). As you pray, look for God to give you a fresh point of view.

3) Pursue Some Peace

The prophet Isaiah prayed, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (Isaiah 26:3, NLT). What would happen if you made that your daily prayer during Lent? If you fixed your thoughts on God, could you let go of a longstanding grudge? With His help, could you forgive a long-ago hurt? Could you trust Him enough and make that long-overdue phone call?

When Jesus wept over Jerusalem, He said, “If you had only known today what would bring you peace!” (Luke 19:42, GWT). Do you know what will bring you peace? Why not make the choices that would bring you inner calm this Lenten season?

4) Don’t Give Up on Healing

Could Lent be a time of healing for you? Would it be a physical healing? A financial breakthrough? A fractured relationship mended?

Sure, it may be a sacrifice to give up salt or red meat during Lent, but wouldn’t that improve your cholesterol? You may find it hard to pray for a neighbor who irritates you, but what if it lowered your blood pressure? You might have given up praying for an outcome, but then you’d surely miss the one prayer that might lead to healing.

In the Bible, when Jesus asked the man at the Pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to get well?” the man replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me” (John 5:7, NIV). He felt friendless and frustrated. And that had been going on for years. But on this particular day, Jesus met him and said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (John 5:8, NIV). And the man picked up his mat and walked.

Have you stopped praying and hoping? Why not take prayerful healing steps this Lenten season to change that?

While the Lent season usually involves giving something up, that doesn’t mean you can’t try something new. Maybe this year, however else you might observe Lent, try shifting your focus and looking for what you might gain. Whether that’s finding some quiet, seeking out new perspectives, prioritizing peace, of focusing on your own healing, your Lenten journey can bring you spiritual renewal for the rest of the year.

READ MORE ABOUT HOW TO DO LENT:

How to Live—and Pray—the Lord’s Prayer

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

Saturdays I often volunteer at our church’s soup kitchen. These days, since the pandemic, we’ve been handing out a hot meal and a bag of food outside. My job is serving up cups of hot coffee. “Cheaper than Starbuck’s,” I like to tell the guests. Free, in fact!

One Saturday, feeling pretty exhausted, I realized, “This is prayer, too.” I start my mornings sitting on the couch, eyes closed, opening up to the Spirit, and then reading a few psalms while I eat my oatmeal…but service is prayer, too.

As the letter of James in the Bible puts it, “But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers…” Our faith expresses itself both vertically (gazing heavenward) and horizontally (serving the coffee). Here’s how I try to integrate them both in prayer, using the Lord’s Prayer as a template:

Our Father who art in heaven. Volunteer work can be taxing. For me, it’s back and forth, getting more coffee, handing out creamers and sugar, refilling the urn, fetching more cups, but it’s also fatiguing empathetically.

I’m dealing with people who have so little, and it makes me realize how I have so much. What I have to remember, again and again, is what we have in common. As one of the guests said, gesturing to the very sidewalk, “This is a God place.” God’s love sustaining us all.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Would that I were a real saint! Almost every Saturday, I grow impatient over something. How many cups of coffee have I already given you? I ask myself about some guest or Do you really need that much sugar? about another.

How quickly I forget what a boon a free cup—or a few free cups—of coffee mean to them in their vulnerable and fragile living situations. I hear my unworthy thoughts and seek God’s forgiveness. For me and for them.

Give us this day our daily bread. I love how the words that Jesus gave us in this prayer are in the first-person plural, not singular. Not just my daily bread but our daily bread.

At our church’s Saturday Kitchen, we are giving many people their daily bread. The number of guests has more than doubled since the pandemic. But it’s not just an us-giving-to-them universe. We are getting back necessary spiritual sustenance.

Thy kingdom come. Our guests come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures speaking a variety of languages. One Sunday a Chinese guest—with little English—insisted on giving me an envelope.

Inside was a brochure about a sainted Chinese man I’d never heard of, Ignatius Cardinal Kung Pin-Mei (1901-2000). This Catholic bishop was a courageous witness to his faith during turbulent times, spending 32 and a half years in a Chinese prison. When finally released, he spent his last years in America.

The guest was sharing with me another glimpse of God’s kingdom on earth, a piece of history I knew nothing of. A prayer we silently shared.