Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week.  Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here. 

 Do you have a favorite
place to pray? Do you kneel at the side of your bed, do you bow your head, and
do you close your eyes? Do you pray at night, in the morning, or multiple times
during the day? How about before meals or in public settings? Is prayer a daily
ritual you practice at home, or is prayer something saved for church or online
worship? There are many forms and practices of prayer, but the real question is
this, do you pray? 

 My favorite place to pray is in the shower. Weird, right? But as I think about
the reasons behind this, it makes sense why I have chosen this spot to converse
with my maker. It is one of the first things I do in the morning, and I always
feel much better when I am clean and ready to take on a new day.
 
The shower is one of the few places I can be alone and concentrate on my
thoughts. There are no cell phone distractions, no barking dogs, and no emails.
There is no traffic, no horns, or upset drivers. It is just me, and as the warm
water pours over my head, I find a peace and tranquility in this simple space.
 
The water does many things for me, and as I relax and allow the shower to rain
upon me, I find God in miraculous ways. First, the water wakes me up and gets
me ready for the new day. It allows me to be open to what God wants to show me
as I become energized and refreshed. Second, the water washes away the dirt
from the day before. It rids me of the stain, uncleanliness, and filth that
comes from living a life of freewill. And third, the water reminds me of my
baptism. It reminds me of the promises I made to God, the church, and my
family.
 
Yes, I know. The shower may be a strange place for me to spend some moments
with my Savior. But as I dry off, get dressed, and decide what to do next, I
feel refreshed, cleansed, and empowered to face whatever He has in store for
me. It has given me the time to pray for forgiveness and let go of whatever is
holding me back. It has given me the time to uplift those that are sick, needy,
or desperate to hear His words. It has given me the time to be thankful for all
His blessings, for all He has provided, and for all He has answered. And it has
given me the time to be peaceful, warm, and humble as I start a new day in His
glorious creation.
 
This is just one of the places I find the serenity to pray. Prayer was missing
for many years in my life, but when I discovered the power, the peace, and the
healing it brings, it was an easy practice to embrace. Now, I find myself
giving praise multiple times a day. I am open to what God is trying to show me.
I see His miracles in the creation I am surrounded with, His struggles in the
pain His people endure, and His forgiveness when we are cruel and hurtful. I
see His power when we congregate to pray for one another, His healing when our
worlds are broken, and His grace when we fall short. And whether we feel He
answers our prayers or not, prayer is a necessity and brings us closer to
fulfilling the mission He has for our lives.
 
So, I ask this question again. Do you pray? It does not matter how you pray,
where you pray, or the words you use. It does not matter how often you pray,
what you pray for, or if you think you are doing it right. What matters is
this. Prayer gives you the chance to let go of that weight that brings you
down. Prayer gives you the chance to lift up those you love and have them
blessed. And prayer gives you the chance to ask for forgiveness, start fresh,
and be open to what God wants to show you. My friends, prayer is the answer
when times are tough. Prayer is the answer when burdens are heavy. And prayer
is the answer when life is spectacular. It is one thing nobody can take away
from us, and when you pray, your mission becomes clear, and you are ready to do
the work God needs from you.
 
In this time of Thanksgiving, I pray that you find yourself surrounded by love
and peace. I pray that you find reasons to be thankful, no matter what changes
this world brings for this 2020 holiday. And I pray that you feel refreshed,
cleansed, and empowered to face whatever God is ready to show you.