# Prayer to experience your blessings
*2008-11-23*

> Bill Young shares a reflection on witnessing God's work in our lives and offers a prayer for the blessings and spiritual protection of family and friends.

## The power of witness

In preparing for Thanksgiving, I want to reflect on a recent experience. I recently recorded a prayer for the Hour of Mercy, and shortly after, I listened to a podcast by Father Rick Mendel. In his story, Father Mendel describes a near-death experience and his subsequent renewal, and he specifically mentions the prayer at the Hour of Mercy as being part of that experience. To me, this felt like a very strong coincidence.

## Sharing our experiences

I was sharing this with a friend of mine, John, who is homebound. He mentioned that he doesn't have those kinds of dramatic experiences and suggested that perhaps you have to be in a major crisis, like Father Mendel was, to experience something like that. While that may be true in some cases, I believe there is a larger purpose to these moments. To paraphrase Jesus, there were times He performed miracles not for those who already believed, but for others, so that they might believe. He was being a witness to God.

## A call to believe

I feel that whenever we have these experiences in our lives, we are called to witness them to others who may not believe as much as we do. That is the most important premise here. This is why Father Rick Mendel gives these talks and podcasts; although he is already a priest and has been changed, he does it for us, so that we may believe and understand how God wants us to do what is right.

## A prayer for loved ones

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Father, I am praying for [pause for your special intention], and I am praying for my son, Greg, and others in the circle of my family and friends, that they will be blessed in living for You. May they live in such a way that they will be blessed. Protect them from keeping company with those who openly sin or from following their advice. Help them to find their pleasure in obeying You and in thinking of Your word day and night.

May they seek You and find their refuge in You, being willing to keep their hands clean and their hearts pure. May they worship You, giving You the glory due to Your name by walking in the light of Your presence. May they fear You with reverence and awe, living upright lives in unity with others. Help them not to deceive themselves or anyone else about their sins, least of all You, but to confess them, knowing that they will be forgiven. Help them to trust You alone, living in humility, without loving or trusting anyone or anything more than You. May they be kind and help the weak, choosing to live in Your presence, praising You, and setting their hearts on finding You. Bless them for Your kingdom, purpose, and glory.

*Our personal experiences with God are gifts intended to be shared as a witness to help others believe.*