We offer up prayer in times of need and difficulty and according to Luther when we pray that act in itself causes trials and difficulties. The devil cannot stand to hear us pray and will cause us trials. The world cannot stand to hear us pray as has been shown in the last few days, and if the truth be know we do not know how to pray as we ought, Romans 8:26. God uses the misery of our condition to make us want to pray, We are moved to prayer by our own and our neighbors great need. We are moved to pray as Luther says , because “The church and the world are in a shambles”.1
Last week my wife had an incident and had to go to the hospital. I cannot count the number of times someone said to me that they would be praying for her and for me. When someone says “we will keep you in our prayers”, is that a meaningless platitude? Do they mean it? Did they do it? I have no way of knowing but I do know that it brings a kind of peace believing that they are and that God hears.
This is a picture of a poinsettia that was sent to us by President Baneck on behalf of the North Dakota District. It is much appreciated. Keep those prayers and platitudes coming please. I still believe that the prayers of the righteous “avail much”.
- Ewald Plass, Editor, “What Luther Says”, St Louis; Concordia Publishing House , 1959
