The lyrics of an old, treasured hymn remind me “what a privilege it is to carry everything to God in prayer.” And it’s an even greater privilege for me to join in prayer every month with a trusted group of friends and fellow authors. The six of us have been praying together through the magic of Skype for some time, now. We live thousands of miles apart—Elizabeth Musser is in France, Susan Meissner in California, and the rest of us (Robin Johns Grant, Deborah Raney, Sharon Garlough Brown, and I) are scattered around in the middle in two different time zones. Yet we “meet” regularly to pray for each other and for our calling as writers.
Being an author can be a lonely and isolated profession at times, but we don’t need to feel alone. My prayer partners understand the challenges that come with editors and deadlines and book contracts. We can pool our collective wisdom to help each other resolve problems, while offering sympathy and understanding. All six of us know how difficult it is to balance our writing, our faith, and our family lives, and how a concern in one area effects all of the others. Their prayers have helped me maintain that delicate balance and have enriched my books.
During our on-line prayer times and in the weeks between meetings, I’ve felt reassured, knowing my friends are praying for me, just as I’m praying for them. Along with their prayers, my partners have offered me wisdom, understanding and friendship. And when we’ve seen answers to our prayers, all six of us celebrate and rejoice together.
“Oh, what peace we often forfeit!” the hymn says. “Oh, what needless pain we bear! All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” Praying together is life-giving. Shared burdens are lighter, shared joys more joyous. Might you be able to find a group of friends to pray with on a regular basis? Distance is no longer an obstacle thanks to modern technology. And the benefits of communal prayer are life-changing.
To enter the giveaway for Where We Belong, sign up for my newsletter!
If you have already signed up for my newsletter, thank you! However, to qualify, I’ll still need record of your entry through the link above. (Don’t worry! You won’t be signed up twice.)
More giveaways can be found on each blog post of the Transformational Fiction Giveaway Tour.
Visit my sister in faith and fiction Elizabeth Musser to learn How It All Began and a chance to win her novel The Sweetest Thing! Click the picture below to visit the next blog post from my friend, Elizabeth.
9 comments
Oh how I loved reading about how you and your author friends stick together for prayer!!
I thought of this Scripture in the KJV Proverbs 14:24 …there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
Thank you foe the opportunity to win your book. I signed up to get your newsletter!
Jean
Thanx for sharing. What a great idea!
Your books have changed my life. I absolutely adore your writing and the way it has drawn me closer to God. Helped me see Him for the awesome Father that He is. The Chronicles of the Kings was so well written, so well researched….I just can’t thank you enough. I recommend your books to everyone.
This is so wonderful! We love our small group too. So excited to sign up for each of these ladies newsletters! Thank you all for sharing!
I have prayer warrior friends with whom I pray frequently with and for and our bible study Life Group are great friends and such support, especially in the area of sharing scripture and prayer. Prayer is such a way to draw closer to God and one another.
Dear Lynn,
I’d like to comment on the mechanics of signing up for this contest. I was trying to click through and get them all done in order, but I got some phone calls, and couldn’t figure out if I’d missed some or completed them all. So I went back and (probably) re-submitted some. I hope that won’t be counted against me. 🙂
Now, about the contest itself. How exciting to be introduced to other Christian authors!! Thank you! I first came across one of your books when my newborn grandson was in the hospital. (He’s nearly two now and doing great. What a blessing!) Your book was in a “Free! Take one!” section at the Ronald MacDonald house in San Diego. That, too, was a blessing. I have read many of your other books since then.
I live in a small town, and pray with the women in my church’s Bible study, and fellow believers from a couple of churches: at a home group and for our children’s Bible club. The smaller ones are definitely more intimate.
Thanks for your wonderful books. Thank you again for this contest, as well!
Thanks so very much for this opportunity to enter a giveaway! I already signed up for your newsletter:) Have read books by you before and really enjoyed them! Would love to win a print copy in this giveaway! God bless!
I work in a library and a battered, discolored, well-read book “Wonderland Creek was being discarded. I read it and passed it around to some co-workers. We now are gobbling up your books wherever we can find them through the SearchOhio program. Thank you for the great stories all threaded with words from God that truly inspire and help me look closer into my faith.
Comments are closed.