On June 17th, 2020, CNN health posted an article titled “The psychological benefits of prayer: What science says about the mind-soul connection.” The article appeared to share the benefits of prayer as a tool that helped some to improve their self wellness during this Covid-19 pandemic. This concurs with what the bible says in Philippians 4:6-7: do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving we let our requests be made known to God.

Praying by yourself

In John 15:15, Jesus says God no longer calls us his servants but calls us His friends. Every relationship and friendship grows deeper and closer through spending time together. Some of the benefits of personal prayer shared by religious leaders include knowing God more intimately for ourselves. When we spend time with God, we experience a freedom to express ourselves to Him and we allow Him to speak with us directly through the Bible and prayer. It is important to spend time alone with God because God is the source of our strength and we need His strength to fight the spiritual battles of our lives. Also, personal prayer allows us to understand the heart of God which helps us be content as we wait for Him to answer our requests.

Praying together

As we continue to nurture our own prayer life it is also important we invite others. As mother Teresa reminds us “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” When we pray together more prayers are said and each of us brings a unique voice to the needs at hand. The Bible also reminds us that God is among us when we do so: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. Another reason why it is important to pray together is that it gives us a sense of belonging. Also, it helps lift our spirit. More than anything praying together opens us to the needs of others. This allows us to be an answer to their prayer. It is in communal prayer that we deepen our empathy for others because we are no longer centered on ourselves but for others. 

Whichever way you choose to pray, it is important to make it part of your daily routine. Take time to engage your Heavenly Father. Like our earthly parents God desires that we reach out to him because he delights in us when we do so. Also, remember saying a prayer is better than saying no prayer at all. As Max Lucado reminds us “Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”

 

This article was written by Annete Karanja. 

 

Would you like to share your experience of living through the circumstances brought by the Covid-19 pandemic? Kindly email: communications@strathmore.edu