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Quote of the Day: Do You Pray for America?
“Prayer has two dimensions, one mysterious, the other not. There are simply too many cases of prayers being answered for us to deny that it makes a difference to our fate. It does. I once heard the following story. A man in a Nazi concentration camp lost the will to live—and in the death camps, if you lost the will to live, you died. That night he poured out his heart in prayer. The next morning, he was transferred to work in the camp kitchen. There he was able, when the guards were not looking, to steal potato peelings. It was these peelings that kept him alive. I heard this story from his son.” — Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks
Particularly over the last year, I’ve read how many people have called for prayers for themselves or others: prayers for those we care about in the Ricochet prayer group; prayers for understanding and solace. And a number of people have shared that they are praying for our country.
Knowing that we at Ricochet are a serious group that calls for action from our government that helps and doesn’t cripple us—securing the border, stopping eccentric and costly legislation, asking Republicans to act as if they care about America—I wonder if people also believe that prayer can have a positive effect on the future of our country.
Do you pray for America? Do you think it makes a difference? Do you believe that prayer can be helpful? Or do you think it’s a waste of time?
If you pray for the country, do you just pray out of habit, or because you assume that it simply can’t hurt?
I pray because I think it does matter. And that it might make a difference.
I guess it depends on whether G-d sees us as worthy of His help and guidance.
[photo courtesy of unsplash.com]
Published in Religion & Philosophy
What a thoughtful and heartfelt description of prayer, @manny! Thanks so much. I know that prayer strengthens our bond and relationship with G-d, and the steadier we are, the more our relationship with Him grows.
Thanks so much, Hartmann. Yes, we’ve followed the many blessings you’ve seen, and it’s always so heartening and encouraging for all of us.
Beautiful, Joshua. Thank you.
Thanks for reminding me, Susan. I’ve been meaning to write a post about the Patriotic Rosary many in my parish prayed the Sunday after Veterans Day. It was led by our Knights of Columbus, many of them veterans themselves. I link it here and encourage everyone, Catholic or not, Christian or not, to read the five “Mysteries,” which are writings of men from the founding generation. It brought one of our Knights to tears.
Yes, I pray for our country. I even enjoy the irony, as a Catholic, that we were once asked by Our Lady to pray for the conversion of communist Russia/Soviet Union and now I find myself praying for the conversion of the secular-socialist United States. I don’t claim to know the mind of God, but I suspect He really dislikes communism.
Beautiful post Susan. Also, love your quote from Rabbi Sacks. He’s one of my heroes.
“You are enthroned upon the psalms of Israel.”
(Psalms 22:4)
Wonderful reference, WC. I’m sure you’re right about communism!! Thanks.
Mine, too, Alex. Thanks. He’s missed.
Yes. I don’t know. Interesting post. Just today I said to someone in an email that I pray for America.
Susan and other colleagues, one of my fervent, daily, sometimes hourly, prayers just got answered: Kyle Rittenhouse found NOT GUILTY! Thank God! Prayers definitely answered.