Do you ever struggle with prayer? 

I imagine that this is a situation most people have from time to time. 

Am I right?  Is this true for you?

It’s true for pastors.  At least, for this one, it is.

There are times when words fail us.  We just don't know what to pray for ourselves, or for a loved one or friend.  Then there are times when we are physically exhausted, emotionally drained, or spiritually spent.  I’ve been there myself, with just enough energy left at the end of the day to utter a one word prayer.

Sometimes, the only prayer I can come up with is:  HELP!   

The church has long used the following simple prayer:  Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.  

Amen. 

God would attach us to this one person, Christ.  Apart from this person, born of Mary and having real flesh and blood, we are neither to seek nor find God.  For we grasp and find God only through faith in the flesh and blood of Christ.

So declared Martin Luther, to which I can only add, "Amen".      

"Why are you a Lutheran?"

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What is the Church but a school where Christ teaches us what the love of God is, and how to love one another?

Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.