The Importance of Prayer

It has been quite a week with the 3 week extension of the lockdown and once more I encourage people to keep in touch with one another.

I was impressed on Thursday night when so many people across the country went to their doorsteps and applauded our dedicated health service workers; it seems to get bigger each week. These are very special moments in which the country comes together in solidarity. We are truly in this together.

To borrow a phrase from the late Jo Cox MP  we 'have more in common than that which divides us'. We are also coming to appreciate the efforts of so many people whom we have in the past taken for granted. That legacy is one which I hope lives on beyond the virus.

Many of you will be feeling anxiety at this time: I certainly am. Do not feel guilty about this or beat yourself up over it. It is a natural feeling. After all, Jesus went through agony in the garden of Gethsemane at the thought of what was to come. Try to think positive thoughts and do whatever helps you to relax; our mental health is very precious indeed.

Prayer becomes important even if it is not always easy. We need to travel the path ahead in a way in which we are open to God's prodding. Those making important decisions from positions of authority need our prayers; those who work in the health service and other emergency services need our prayers; the shop workers who are constantly interacting with the public need our prayers; the sick and sad need our prayers; those struggling with isolation such as families where family members have the likes of autism or ADHD need our prayers; those for whom domestic abuse issues seem inescapable need our prayers; and of course we need to pray for the scientists working on a vaccine. The list is endless, however, we should not forget that God can bring hope into the most difficult of situations.

In the meantime, seek to bless one another. I commend to you the words of St Paul:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11