Fall in love with prayer, then God’s love will fill you and overflow into love and compassion for others. Be devoted to prayer, constant in prayer, faithful in prayer. God draws near to those who draw near to Him (James 4:8).
After School Tutoring and Prayers
For several years I led an after-school tutoring program for at-risk kids. Our church provided voluntary tutors (adults and teens) to serve the students at the local elementary school. We had tutors willing to give up two hours each week to help a child develop reading skills and improve their grades. We served the second and third graders. Several of these children had one parent in prison; they had parents who for one reason or another could not keep their jobs; they were assured of eating two meals a day (breakfast and lunch) because the school provided meals freely to them. They also had a “secret” food pantry that would allow the principals to provide needed groceries without the family feeling ashamed. It was a school in an upper middle-class suburb. Kids who were wealthy were going to school with kids who didn’t know if they would be able to eat dinner that day.
The sadness in the children’s faces we were ministering to in the program was often visible. They longed for hope and peace. I remember leading prayer for the class when it first began. A few kids started laughing and interrupting, “Mrs. Candy, who are you talking to?!” It only took a few weeks before the kids would shout out, “Mrs. Candy, you haven’t prayed yet. Please pray!”
Why is that? Because when we pray, we are inviting Jesus to be right there with us (Matthew 18:20). His presence is life-giving. He brings peace, hope and love.
