First Steps – October 19, 2020

I remember hearing a story of Mother Teresa that has always intrigued me. She was asked in an interview, “When you pray, what do you say to God?” Her response shocked the interviewer because she answered, “I don’t usually say much, but mainly listen.” The interviewer was silent for a few moments and then asked, “Okay, when you pray, what does God say to you?”  Mother Teresa answered, “Mainly He doesn’t say much but mostly listens.”  Finally, the interviewer said, “I don’t understand” to which Mother Teresa responded, “If you don’t understand, I can’t explain it to you.”

What do you believe about prayer? We often describe prayer as communication with God and God to us. Yet, in our other relationships, there are times where words are never spoken and communication occurs. For instance, there were many nights where my daughter would sit next to me on the sofa, and we might go a long time without uttering a single word. But, if you ask me if we communicated, I would wholeheartedly say, “Yes.” If you asked her, she would answer the same.

Don’t discount the importance of presence. Simply being in the presence of God can be enough.  The lesson is can we sit still long enough to communicate. Give it a try, it might surprise you.


This Week’s Readings:
  • Monday – Mark 4
  • Tuesday – Mark 5
  • Wednesday – Mark 6, Mark 7
  • Thursday – 1 Corinthians 13
  • Friday – Mark 8
Please Pray for:
  • Families in crisis.
  • Friends and family members battling illness.
  • Those seeking to find their way.
  • Teachers and students as they continue to transition.
  • The St. Paul Church family and our ministries.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • Our nation and our leaders.
  • The Covid-19 Pandemic.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6