Read this if you believe in prayer. If you don't -- No ridicule, please.

[bertha katzenengel]

Cross-posted from prayer group.

I was touched by this, even though I waver between agnosticism and atheism. This co-worker became a friend simply because she decided I needed one. We don't know each other well, but I'm going to try to keep in touch with her.

Please note that I don't believe in prayer, but this did touch me.

She sent me away with this in an envelope on Friday afternoon, my last day.

"Dear God I come before you now not free of sin, but wanting to know and be closer to you.

"Lord, I do not know Bertha's religious beliefs, but I want you to put your arms around her and guard her heart. Lord, I would ask that you keep an angel watching over her from this day forward. Let her not fall into depression from the events or people from this job. Despite how much money folks make, you did not make your children to be abused and hurt. What she is now facing is a setback for a comeback. AND, those who know you know a comeback you set up is something that will amaze everyone. A comeback that will put a smile on faces daily -- even when we don't want to smile.

"Lord, let the love that she has for Mrs. V. -- the love they have for each other grow as they have more time to spend with each other until you place Bertha in a position where she can smile again and perform to the best of her ability. Let her smile be a reflection of a miracle that you are working in her life. Let her past be her past. Bless them in their finances so much that it will continue to overflow abundantly so they can continue to help others.

"Lord, continue to let the love I have for you shine so that others might see."

I'd never told this friend much about the circumstances surrounding my quitting my job; I'd told her a little, but how she determined that it was as bad as she wrote in her prayer, I'll never know.

I don't believe in prayer, but I believe in expressions of love, and I accepted this as such.

[supernova]

1. That's a beautiful prayer

:hug:

And that's a true friend with a big heart. :-)

[bertha katzenengel]

4. "big heart" - absolutely

:hug:

[CreekDog]

2. Prayer as I understand it is learning to ask God what he would want you to ask for

and if what you are asking is for the benefit of others, then that is what God wants you to ask for.

in that way, you are connecting and channeling God's love to others that either don't know Him or need to feel God's love in some way that they can't at that moment.

it is a form of intercession that Christians are asked to do for others, whether they are fellow believers or not.

and what they've written is touching. i personally like prayers more than vibes. vibes are what i can send, but the heavy artillery comes from answered prayers --when God is doing the work.

my two cents. :)

[bertha katzenengel]

5. by your understanding, she's "doing it right," it seems

:hug: thanks for your two cents. i'll add it to the bucket that now weighs about 15 pounds . . .

[raccoon]

3. I second what supernova said. IMO prayer doesn't affect outside circumstances,

but can affect my attitudes and my actions.

For example, I think it would be pointless to pray that I'd get a particular job. But to pray to do my best on the interview, and perhaps think of somebody who could put in a good word for me, that to me makes sense.

[bertha katzenengel]

6. even though i don't believe in prayer

I agree with you - is that weird?

This is why I say I'm agnostic/atheist. Sometimes I believe and sometimes I don't, and sometimes the two are muddled together incomprehensibly.

[CreekDog]

7. Okay, here's a job related prayer I once made and the answer (you tell me if I should believe) ;)

Was looking for work without success. Doing everything right, but no luck and running out of money. :banghead:

One day I simply prayed to God that I could find a good job that suited me, but I was at my wits end because I was out of money and a good job would take time that I didn't have. In my prayer, I remember saying, "God, I know that I can't pull off what I want to have, but you can and if you will, I'm ready for it and I would really like it, if you will just give it to me." I also prayed, "Lord, I need a good job to fall into my lap, I know you can and I am ready if you will."

And here's what happened:

The next day I got a call from the City of SF wanting interview me for a temp job at a terrific salary. Within 2 months, SF offered me a permanent position, but it wasn't quite right and by then I was offered a job in the field I studied, an even better job, but here's the kicker:

I had heard about the job but never applied, not really understanding what they wanted and being incredibly obtuse about the job. The manager at that job had seen my resume and as the deadline approached, he submitted my resume for consideration anyway. Came home to a voicemail saying the deadline had passed but that he applied on my behalf anyway.

The job was absolutely perfect for my background, they had it open 2 different times looking for the right candidate. I was so stupid about the whole thing, I didn't even apply for the damned job, but had left a resume for "anything *else* that might open up"

I got that job and it has opened so many doors for me --and just as I prayed, "it fell into my lap" and I never ran out of money thanks to the great temp job.

My pastor had me tell this story to our congregation on Thanksgiving Day (the week I was hired).

I believe in prayer more than I did before all this happened. I don't know how it all works, when or why, but when it does, it sure is hard to deny as in my case.