Prayer: The best daily self-care
The assurance that there’s a divine power operating in our lives—a power that surpasses mere human efforts—strengthens us to go forward.
They were earnest, faithful, dedicated, and caring. But they were feeling burdened—at a loss for how to help their respective congregations through the many challenges they were facing: serious illnesses, pressing financial needs, the loss of family members, bickering amongst church deacons and committee members, and so on.
After I listened to them describing their struggles at a recent local clergy association meeting, it was my turn to speak. What came to me to share with my fellow clergy association members was that the Founder of my church, Mary Baker Eddy, requested that its members pray for themselves every day. She wrote, “One thing I have greatly desired, and again earnestly request, namely, that Christian Scientists, here and elsewhere, pray daily for themselves; not verbally, nor on bended knee, but mentally, meekly, and importunately” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 127).
“What?” my clergy friends replied. They wanted to know more.
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