Thursday, December 4, 2025

All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. Acts 1:14

In times of distress, I often wish to turn to prayer to help center me, guide me, and lead me.  

However, sometimes, I’m not even sure how to pray. 

It comes as no surprise to me, then, that the apostles, in this time of distress, having just witnessed Jesus return to heaven, and now not knowing who will be next to join them, decidedly turned to prayer.  And not only did they just turn to prayer, they “constantly devoted” themselves to prayer.  Even Mary, mother of Jesus, was present! It is not to be looked over that the women were praying, too.

Frequently in our broken world I feel overwhelmed by all that is happening around me.  In my personal life, in church life, and, of course, on the national scale.  It often seems that I have no control or power in any of what is happening, and I am left to feel hopeless.  It is in these moments where I know I want to pray, but I have no idea what to pray.  Or how to even begin.  

Then I am reminded. 

I am reminded that no matter how I pray, my prayers are good enough.  Whether it is a formal prayer with all the “right” words, or simply a prayer of, “God, help me!”  Our prayers, these conversations we have with God, are good enough exactly as they are.  In this season of beginnings and endings, of hope and confusion, I hope we all remember that, no matter how we pray, it is good enough.  Devoting ourselves to prayer in our lives does not need to be difficult and convoluted with inquiries into whether or not we are praying the “right” way… We just need to pray.  To turn to God and engage with God.  We just need to pray. 

God, I don’t always get it right.  I know that.  You know that.  But, Lord, be with me today.  Be with me in this season of Advent.  Grant me peace of heart and mind, knowledge of your love, and, of course, the love of your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.  Amen.  

Vicar Connor Watson, is Pastoral Intern at Atonement Lutheran Church, Fishtown & St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Kensington.