The case for prayer. Certainly the state of the world today suggests a pretty good reason to try prayer. It’s not a practice that is celebrated very often in today’s media. Often, they’ll go after someone who dares offer “thoughts and prayers” after a tragedy – particularly one involving guns. I’m actually all for reasonable gun control but, that issue aside, people should not be shamed out of offering thoughts and prayers for three reasons.
1.) Offering them helps us when we feel powerless to do much more.
2.) Many people take real comfort in the sentiment.
3.) Most importantly, prayer has actual power. I can testify to that. It has helped me many times in my life in ways that I consider to be miraculous.

While there is some science to support belief in the power of prayer, believing in it will always require a bit of faith.

Whether praying for the world, the good of others or yourself, I believe prayer has tremendous value and would like to see that belief (which I share with millions of others) not relegated to productions labeled (and segregated) as “faith-based.” Faith in God, and in the power of prayer, is quite mainstream no matter what much of the media would have you believe.

Anyway, I recommend prayer to everyone. You may find aids like the recently released Pocket Guide to Prayer from Ascension Press to be a good way to start – or you just might connect with God in your own words. Pray with this in mind: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Pray with not just faith but gratitude for all God’s blessings, past, present and on the way. Nothing is impossible with God.

Meanwhile, it’s good to see that there is some media that presents prayer in a positive light. On the traditional faith-based front, Light of the World is an animated film due to open theatrically next summer. It tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of the youngest apostle, John. For parents of the Christian faith, it offers a way to help ground their kids in a faith that will help see them through the many trials of this world. Producer Brennan McPherson says “This film’s story is intensely personal to us because it shows how Jesus can change the lives of broken people like you and me.”

Finally, for a rare example of prayer being presented in a positive way on a corporate television network, I call your attention to this scene from the sixth season finale of Young Sheldon in which the local pastor uses it to help bring people through a tornado. Young Sheldon may not have gotten much (if any) Emmy Award love but it has earned the appreciation of its many fans who appreciate it’s respectful depiction of prayer and faith. It would be nice to see more media follow its lead.