“Mommy you aren’t holding a hand.”

Isaiah 41:13 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹³ For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.”

Recently when praying the closing prayer of our worship service, our small group gathered and held hands as to pray our closing prayer together. As we began to pray a small child’s voice spoke and said:

“Mommy you aren’t holding a hand.”

The child’s mother was holding a hand, but her other hand was not holding another’s hand as to close the prayer circle. Needless to say, small laughs started as we heard this precious child request that a complete prayer circle be made. Our group made a complete circle of held hands as we prayed the closing prayer together.

The scripture from Isaiah tells us that His holding of our right hand can also be read as “will strengthen you”. This verse speaks to the fact that when in prayer we are forming an alliance with God as to enable us to do the things that we request in His name.

The same can be said about holding hands when praying and even when forming a circle of hand held prayer. As we approach the Father in relationship and gain strength from this relationship, we gather in community as a conjoined alliance seeking out the Strength and Support of God.

It is this unity of faith that comes from these moments of group prayer that strengthens our faith and commitment to God, while being with people of like faith in prayer relationship.

This can also supply the answer that some have in asking: “Why do I need to go to church, I can worship God anywhere”? Beloved, it is the support and alliance with like minded people that reminds us that we are the family of God, and together we form the Body of Christ.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a personal relationship. But when we gather to worship as a group and when we hold hands and embrace one another in Christian love, we are truly holding and embracing each other with the hands and arms of Christ.

It only took a small child to remind us of this.

Matthew 19: 13-14

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.