To me, prayer shouldn’t be separate from daily life, but should arise spontaneously from it, inspired by the ordinary sights, sounds and experiences that surround us. That was the raison d’être behind my books Touched By His Hand, Touching Down, Touching the Seasons and Heaven Touching Earth, followed later by Calling Mars and Calling Venus, aimed specifically at men and women respectively. Here, for example, is a prayer inspired by an exposé article in a weekly newspaper, offering a reminder of the way some sought to stifle news of the resurrection.
The newspaper exposé
They tried to suppress the truth,
to hush it up with bribes and threats
but they failed,
for the reporter wouldn’t let go,
beavering away until she’d uncovered the facts
and then printing the story for all to see.
I’m reminded, Lord, of another story,
another time,
but a similar attempt to suppress the truth
and silence those who spoke it:
the authorities bribing guards
and intimidating believers
in a bid to stifle news of the resurrection.
Remind me, Lord,
that though truth may be threatened by falsehood,
good by evil,
love by hatred
and life by death,
your purpose will always come through,
nothing finally allowed to frustrate
your renewing power
and redeeming grace.
Amen.