A prayer for the broken, the weary, and the lost.
May this prayer bless your soul and anoint your life.
Get quiet, still, and press play.
Might I suggest that you press play on this guided prayer in the Substack app, or via your web browser and either listen in silence and stillness, or play the below song on another device for beautiful, supplemental audio.
“Your Grandmother’s prayers are still protecting you.”
It’s likely you’ve heard this on more than one occasion.
And, if you haven’t, let it be known that they are.
If your Grandmother didn’t pray for you, know that someone has.
If you don’t believe me, let it be known that I’ve said a prayer of protection, guidance, and blessing for every reader of these very words.
So, may you remember one day, at the very least, that Lauren’s prayers are still protecting you.
When I was in my season of deep depression, from November 2022 through late February/early March of 2023, it was the prayers of my people that got me through, along with the power and protection of God—Yahweh—who chose to show me grace and mercy that pulled me lovingly, tenderly forward to make it through that season.
I recently learned the distinction between grace and mercy (thank you to Tara-Leigh of The Bible Recap for bringing this up twice on my journey through her structured Bible Plan and related reflections thus far). I find it pretty profound.
Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. Grace is God giving us something we do not deserve. I have received both in abundance, and continue to.
The spiritual darkness that I chose to deepen into, and the shame that I felt for moving that far away from God, had no hold on me once I surrendered my life to Him. The grace and mercy that God demonstrated to me before I even ran back to Him, including sending me reminders of His love for me through family, friends, and community members telling me they were praying for me, and actively uplifting me in my darkest days when I couldn’t fathom why anybody would love me or care about my existence, is a testament to His goodness and faithfulness.
Regardless of your circumstance, or how dark you may find this season, may you know how deeply you, too, are loved by a Creator who knew you by name before you were born.
P.S. Starting May 1st, free subscribers will receive:
my top-of-the-month reflection newsletter
a newsletter with 1-2 of my favorite things in it each month, too.
Paid subscribers will receive:
my top-of-the-month reflection newsletter along with an audio meditation/prayer
my full list of favorite things each month
access to our monthly community thread and reflective moment in partnership with a friend or community member of mine
access to comment and engage with one another
Like all things I create, I imagine that A New Thing will develop over time and I will keep everyone informed about any changes for both free subscribers and paid subscribers.