Connected and Congruent

Driving home from church this past Sunday, my family was reflecting on each of the Lord’s Prayer stations we walked through that morning. As a family we talk about prayer a lot, we pray together a lot, but this was the first time we had been led individually through directed prayer, in a way that simultaneously connected us more to one another and to the corporate family of Living Waters. Every one was deeply impacted by it!

I traveled through the stations with my two youngest kids. As they were reading the prompts and recording their prayers and pictures, I was transfixed by the power of the Spirit at work within them. The prayer starters were enough to get their imaginations engaged, without hindering the movement of God in their hearts and minds. We stayed longer at some stations than others, they wrote more on some papers than others, starting as soon as they were inspired and moving on just as the thoughts were complete and released. 

They were meeting with Jesus. Clearly. 

In his book about Mother Theresa, Malcolm Muggeridge writes of her, “Each day Mother Theresa meets Jesus; first at the Mass, whence she derives sustenance and strength; then in each needing, suffering soul she sees and tends. They are one and the same Jesus; at the altar and in the streets. Neither exists without the other.” 

Congruency is the character of God. He shows us himself in beautiful prayer times and sacred services. He shows us himself in relationships, church work nights, collaboration meetings at work, showing up for community events, engaging with our kids and spouses, giving sacrificially, and every single situation we find ourselves in throughout our day. Congruency makes these things connected in a way that prohibits division. 

The practical things of this week in conjunction with our Sunday experience (or Abide night if you were there for that!) are “jointly fulfilled; indeed, inseparable.” Jesus is both, and in both, and meeting us in both. 

So we keep our thoughts and minds in this place of prayer as we move through the needs in front of us. He is in each of these things. 

Lord, help us see you. 

As the women gather for Face to Face this weekend. 

As we move into a new month of holding our finances and their limitations before you.

As we participate in Sunday morning and Tuesday lunch and Friday evening and all the time in between.

You moved in our prayers and revealed your face. Move in our week and reveal your face. Prompt us to respond. Prompt us to engage. Prompt us to be congruent, like you. 

With great joy for each one of you!

Sommer