April With Grace Women: On Prayer + Abiding
Thoughts on prayer+fasting, plus a story about abiding
Last month we concluded our community-wide twenty one days of prayer and fasting, and in light of those spiritual practices, we invited a friend of Grace Women to share about her experience of learning to ABIDE with Jesus, even in tragedy.
NOTE: If you need powerful encouragement to remember the abiding faithfulness of God, this piece is for you. If your heart is particularly tender, take care in proceeding and know that this story takes place in the context of the loss of a loved one. Preview this excerpt to decide if you want to click and read!
“The chapel is full with standing room only as the service begins and voices ring out the stanza in earnest. They are words that will stir me for the rest of my life, when I hear them in a movie or at another funeral or see them in a book.
Abide with me
Fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens
Lord, with me abideWhen other helpers fail
And comforts flee
Help of the helpless
Oh, abide with me
Six decades have passed since the funeral of my thirteen-year-old sister, Cheree, my only sibling, who died of cystic fibrosis. The truth behind those words has never left me…
Or listen to the story, as read by author Cathee Poulsen:
If you’re interested in engaging more on the formative practices of prayer + fasting, perhaps consider these:
FASTING RESOURCES:
On the spiritual practice of fasting, by Practicing the Way
A podcast on how to engage with fasting, for those with a history of eating disorders, body shame, or body dysmorphia.
An article: How and Why to Practice Fasting, by Phylicia Masonheimer (related podcast episode here)
5 Myths About Fasting, article by Crossway
PRAYER RESOURCES:
A free Prayer Guide download from the GW team!
A podcast on the practice of prayer, a four part series from John Mark Comer
A GBC sermon on prayer, from Pastor Cam & Sarah Beth
A podcast on praying together, from Journeywomen
We love sharing resources — and we’d love to know what you think! Check out this month’s poll here. Just three quick questions. Won’t take more than five minutes. 😘