By Carla Long, counselor to Presiding Bishop
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
I remember following my toddler at the park years ago, hovering just far enough away to let him explore his independence, but close enough to catch him if he stumbled. Suddenly, he paused, looked me in the eye and said with profound clarity: “Mommy, be with me when I want you.”
I went to him immediately, happy to be called. His words, however, lingered in my heart. At first, I wondered if this was how we often treat God—keeping the Divine at a distance until we face a challenge, only then beckoning the Creator to step in and “be with us.”
But as I reflect on our journey in Community of Christ, I see a deeper invitation in my son’s request. We often think of God’s presence as a personal comfort, yet we are called to remember that our identity as one community comes before our individual possessions or desires. When we invite God to “be with us,” we are not just asking for a private companion; we are being called into a relationship of equality, solidarity, and shared responsibility. This is a much bigger ask than just using God as a warm blanket for us to curl up in. When we ask God to be with us, the call is to truly see others in the way that God see them.
In Christ, we discover that God is already there, yearning for us to move from “me” to “we.” By recognizing that God is always with us, we find the courage to seek the welfare of others, knowing that our own well-being is found within the flourishing of the whole community.
Prayer Phrase
“Bear one another’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2).
Spiritual Hunger
Jesus discerned hungers of body and spirit, and he fed them through a physical, verbal, spiritual ministry of presence. In a time of listening prayer, ask God to help you discern physical or spiritual hungers of people in your congregation, community, and global family. Invite the Spirit to move you to one hospitable act that “feeds” someone’s hunger today.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.