We have been looking at a conversation between Michelle Benzinger, Sister Miriam James Heidland, and Heather Khym from their podcast, Abiding Together. I’ve been drawing ideas from their production, “Scripture Series Part 3: Waymaker - Jesus the Way, The Truth, and the Life.” We’ve been especially focusing on the Gospel of John, Chapter 14.

In our prayer, we sometimes (often?) wonder if we are getting it right. We ask the Lord for some sign that we are following “Jesus – the way.” How can we know? That’s a trap. We’re asking the wrong question. We’re asking the Lord to tell us what WE must do.

Thomas: How are we going to figure this out?

Jesus:” You don’t have to. I’ve already done that.”

John 14:27 gives us the sign when we’re getting it right. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Jesus does not say, “Well, if you would only try harder….” Jesus says, “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

What does a prayer look like? “Bring your heart to me. Bring your thoughts to me. Bring your ideas to me. Bring your calendar to me. Bring your concerns to me.”

Stop! Abide with me and I will give you rest.

Weekly the ladies of Abiding Together solicit prayer requests from each other. They also share “one good thing” that they experience in the past week. I offer their “good things” from their podcast:

Heather introduced Damascus Mission. They are a Catholic retreat ministry, summer camp and leadership mission institute focused on youth. They have developed a Worship Mission that ministers to the young people who visit them. One of their songs is “I Believe”

Michelle introduced singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard who offers her song, “Something Has to Break.”

I offer my favorite icon of Mary – “Holy Protection”