Sustaining compassionate prayer when images of destruction seem overwhelming, can be a test of our spiritual persistence and determination. Yet, God has made us spiritually strong. We can pray and keep right on praying, until there is peace and healing for those reeling from natural disaster or war.
How do you go about sustaining compassionate prayer?
One way that I know of, is to begin prayer with God – what God is, and what He does for us.
What God is. “God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All.” (Science and Health 17:14–15) “God is Love”. (I John 4:16.) He is the tender, compassionate, all-loving One. God’s love is ever-present and it guides, guards, governs, and sustains His dear ones. As divine Love, God cares deeply for us, and He shows His caring in the way that meets our need. God gives His love generously, unconditionally. It is abundant, dependable, constant. “Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals.” (Science and Health 13:2–3)
What God does for us. Divine Love stands ready to assist us every moment, and this Love never fails to respond to every call for help. God, Love, always meets our need. The Love that is God, and the love that He has for each of us, actively comforts, shelters, and protects us all right here and now. No one is left out. The love of God is vast and encompassing enough to include everyone’s needs – despite the size and scale of what is required. No matter how overwhelming the scene, no circumstance is beyond the power and grace of God. “Scripture informs us that “with God all things are possible,” — all good is possible to Spirit;” (Science and Health 232:9–12). Each of us can pray this truth with conviction, knowing that God’s goodness blesses all whom our thoughts rest upon in prayer.
Is sustaining compassionate prayer effective?
Yes it is ! At one time, my brother and I worked for several months in a war zone. Each and every day my mother faithfully and persistently prayed for our safety and wellbeing. During that time, communication with her was virtually impossible. She had no idea where we were, or what has happening to us. There was no way for her to know if her prayers for our protection from harm and for our welfare, were being effective. But it didn’t matter to her. My mother knew that she must sustain her compassionate prayers, because she believed whole-heartedly in the effectiveness of Christian Science healing prayer, and in the power and immediacy of God’s saving love. All the time we were there, she never gave up on prayer. My mother prayed and prayed, and kept on praying for us.
Such Love-inspired prayer works! My brother and I returned from the war zone safe and sound. And over all the years since then, I’ve been able to turn to divine Love in prayer in other life-threatening situations, when I’ve been exposed to contagious disease, when I’ve needed a home, and when I’ve been parted from loved ones. As a result of God’s great love, I’ve been comforted, sheltered, and kept safe from harm. My experience is not unique. The great heart of divine Love has done, and continues to do, the same for all those who seek His help through prayer.
Be proactive in prayer.
When a situation is ongoing, our steadfast prayer and care about the well-being of others will help them find solutions to their need for food, water, clothing, and shelter. That’s because God made us able to do this. He made us in the image of Himself – the image of Love. (Genesis 1:27.) So, as God is tender-hearted, we are able to be compassionate, warm hearted. As God is all-caring, so we are able to be caring of others. God is the divine Motivator. He constantly inspires the prayerful generosity of His children. He gives us the ability to love and keep loving, to give and keep giving, to pray and keep praying. It’s His prompting that enables us to take practical action and keep on helping each another.
Draw on God’s love.
To maintain compassionate prayer for those caught up in disaster or war, we can draw on God’s love, and have it energize our caring and praying. God’s love is inexhaustible. He never tires of caring for us. His love remains strong and active always. Because God’s compassion is never dulled, our compassion can never become deadened in the face of disaster – no matter how many times, nor how much assistance, is required by those in need.
Keep the faith.
In the face of great human need, it’s so important that we show our Christianity. We must unite with others in prayer, maintain our faith, and uphold the heartfelt, powerful conviction, that sustained prayer will lead to healing solutions. As we pray for peace and restoration, we can say, “I also have faith that my prayer availeth, and that He who is overturning will overturn until He whose right it is shall reign” Mary Baker Eddy (“The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,” p. 220). Let’s stay strong, continue to sustain tender-hearted, compassionate prayer, and never give up.
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Beverly, thank you for the listening and willingness to share, that brought this inspiration forward. Three of my favourite ideas are below, also the story of your mother’s prayer from afar making a difference in a war situation. 1.”God has made us spiritually strong.” 2. “God’s love is inexhaustible. He never tires of caring for us.” 3. “We must unite with others in prayer, maintain our faith, and uphold the heartfelt, powerful conviction, that sustained prayer will lead to healing solutions.”
Thank you Bill for your comment. I am glad to know that you were encouraged by the story of my mother’s sustained prayer for my brother and me during war, and the 3 points that you mentioned. Thank you for your continued prayers. They are such a blessing.
I have been waiting for your next post and was so pleased to get it this morning! It’s not just the feeling of compassionate burnout in the face of the pervasive media reporting of fires, pandemic, floods and constant rain, as well as the Ukraine situation. I too have felt that it is not possible to pray about all these things. And this morning your helpful and reassuring post that all our prayers must start with God and all that implies. They are effective and the quotes you include support this. Thank you for the encouragement and support you constantly provide.
Thank you so much Jenny. I was delighted that my post has been timely for you. I am grateful to know that you are encouraged to keep on with your compassionate prayers and you won’t give up.
Thank you again Beverly for this wonderful and inspiring article of Sustaining compassionate prayer. I just loved the idea and term – tender-hearted and compassionate prayer.
Thank you Leticia. It is so good to know that you are praying with the ideas in my post. Yes, our tender-hearted, compassionate prayers are so vital right now. Blessings to you for all your prayers.
Dearest Beverly,
Much gratitude for your beautiful Solo and healing comments,
Loving thoughts always Pauline R. Noorts ❤
Thank you dear Pauline. I am glad that you have found this post and my solo a blessing as you pray. My best to you.