Ruth: Chapter 1 - Pray Always, Jesus Did!

Here are my thoughts as they come on Chapter 1 ... This chapter starts out with a reference to the prayerful saint, Padre Pio. He is one of my favorite role models. When you read the life of saints you always see that the source of their strength was Jesus and they usually lived a very prayerful life no matter what their vocation was. The saints challenge me and lift the bar, so to speak.

This chapter is a great opportunity to ask any of you to share any recent prayer experiences or struggles.  I guess this comes to mind because I just had an experience and I am willing to share it hoping it encourages you in your prayer life.  If you had asked me to share on prayer last week I might not have though of anything but this incident just happened.

I do try to live a prayerful life but life sometimes crowds out prayer. Last week, however, I was really struggling with some issues. Rather than attending the first part of a Bible Study that I was attending, I decided to spend an hour in church and then go downstairs for the DVD section of the study.  While upstairs, my mind was like Grand Central Station. I could not focus as my mind was all over the place with thoughts coming and going.  I tried to stay focused and kept bringing myself back to prayer, but without much success.  I left after an hour knowing that the Lord knew my heart. He knew I wanted to spend prayerful time with Him. I went downstairs and someone who had also been in the church, but who I don't even know, walked by me, put her hand on my shoulder and said she had been praying for me while in church.  Now here it was, I could not pray but someone in the body of Christ had been inspired to pray for me without even being asked to do so or knowing why. It was a powerful realization and a great blessing.

Please don't feel like you have to share.  I share just to open conversation and set an example. You are welcome to share your reflections on the book, ask questions or challenge anything said in this Blog. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts and stories.