"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.” Matthew 18:20 (The Daily Life Bible)
Several years ago, our son Kirk, a US Air Force officer, was deploying to Afghanistan. Months of uncertainty stretched before us.
It was so far away, so fraught with danger. He couldn’t guarantee when we would hear from him or how often, but he had an idea.
“While I’m gone, let’s start with Psalm 1 and all read a psalm a day and pray together,” he suggested.
Nine of us agreed to do it: my sister, my mother, and my niece in New Jersey; Kirk’s fiancée in Georgia; her mother in Tennessee; Kirk’s sister in Ohio; my husband and me in Colorado; and Kirk, continents away in Afghanistan.
We coordinated time zones. To the greatest extent possible, we would read a psalm and pray at the same time every day.
Marking the days with the Psalms became a lifeline for me while Kirk was deployed. Across the miles we were all joined in spirit with God and His Word.
On day 126 of Kirk’s deployment I read Psalm 126:1–3 (AMP): “When the Lord brought back the captives… we were like those who dream…. Our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing…. The Lord has done great things for us! We are glad!”
That same day my phone rang. It was Kirk, calling to tell me that he and his team had arrived home safely.
You, Lord, have shown us the power of hearts united in prayer. I am filled with joy.
