How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity!

- Psalm 133:1, NIV

For my daily devotionals , I am rereading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's brief classic, Life Together. The words above are how he begins the book. In times as uncertain as these, I find myself drawn to the classics of our faith. In addition to reading scripture, I sense a need to return to the foundations in order to stay grounded in these turbulent times.

For those of you who may not be familiar with Bonhoeffer, he was a German pastor and a brilliant theologian who was imprisoned under Hitler during World War II. A few weeks before Hitler took his own life, orders came down from Himmler for Bonhoeffer to be executed. After conducting a worship service in prison on April 8, 1945, the prison guards came to take him away for his execution. His last words to a fellow prisoner were these: "This is the end, but for me it is the beginning of life."

As I reread Bonhoeffer's words slowly, deeply, a few pages at a time -- I find them speaking to me during these troubling times. The following is a prayer Bonhoeffer created and prayed, which I am praying each day. May it enrich you in your prayer life!

Prayer for Today

In me there is darkness,

but with you there is light,

I am lonely, but you do not leave me.

I am feeble in heart, but you do not leave me.

I am restless, but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;

Your ways are past understanding, but

You know the way for me.

Lord Jesus Christ

You were poor

and in misery, a captive and forsaken as I am.

You know all our distress;

You abide with me

when all others have deserted me;

You do not forget me, but seek me.

You will that I should know you and turn to you.

Lord, I hear your call and follow you;

Help me.

Amen.