“Lord, hear our prayer.” (08/25/2025)

I read the first petition in the Prayers of the Faithful and ended with “Let us pray to the LORD.” And as the congregation responded in unison, a voice stood out, that of the child in the front pew, she is four or five years old at the most. I looked at her. She smiled. She was so proud to be part of the congregation, to be speaking the words the adults with her were muttering. And I know the LORD heard her.

Her joy in her response, her joy in being able to join in with the adults around, her joy in being part of what she could see mattered to those same adults, it was so visible and audible, it was almost tangible. And I got distracted for a moment as I took in her joy.

Her joy, her clear response, her resolute voice – they all made me ponder my own joy at being together with other believers, my own joy at joining with others for the love of and glory of our LORD. And I found myself as I returned to my pew after the Prayers of the Faithful saying one more individual prayer, “That my joy in knowing You and loving You and serving You might be so real it is evident to others, I pray. LORD, please hear my prayer.”

I’m pretty sure the little girl has no idea how she evangelized an evangelizer today. I’m pretty sure she and her family are unaware of the impact her response and her joy had on me. But I give thanks for their faith, for their love of this child that led them to want to expose her to the Christian community and to community worship, and for their loving example to her.

As I begin another week today, I do so with gratitude to the LORD who knows what we need before we do and who never disappoints. This weekend I needed a reminder of the joy that is possible in our spiritual journeys of faith, hope and love. This week, as I go forward, I only need to close my eyes and that joy has a face.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.