Pause

It's easy to believe that the world is broken, because we see brokenness all around us. We sometimes feel that same brokenness inside ourselves.

But the same God who sent Jesus to change the world is not done with Christ's work. At the deepest level of who God is, God intends for the brokenness to be healed, for reconciliation to take place.

In these next moments, open yourself to the brokenness you know, and remain open for the healing that God offers.

Listen

"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Matthew 6:5-6

Think

Stealth prayer. It is extremely powerful. I was on staff at a youth retreat many years ago as a part of a secret team, working behind the scenes. Part of my task was to pray for the participants throughout the entire weekend as they strove to get closer to God. I sat in this upper room, praying and working, undistracted by the actions and movement of anyone else. Because I was shut away from the action, I focused on prayer, on talking to God, on praying for God’s presence. And I felt it. This behind-closed-doors stealth prayer was seen and felt way beyond the reaches of that upper room. Prayer is about being with God, and it is really difficult to do that when you are showing others how hard you are praying, or you are distracted by the world around you.

Find time each day for stealth prayer and you will find God sneaking into your life in transformative ways.

Shannon Kelly

Pray

Gracious God, as I continue my journey of Lent, help me remember to make the time for stealth prayer – prayers said to you behind closed doors, secret prayers just between the two of us. Help me to see that this time of quiet, this secret time for you and me will help me through each day and will help me become the person you created me to be. Amen.

Go

Move now into the broken world.
Travel with an intense determination
To find your way into healing,
To take the message of reconciliation
With you,
Within you,

For everyone.