Author Archives: Claudia Dickson Greggs

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About Claudia Dickson Greggs

I am an Anglican priest, author, wife and mother. Writing and teaching about Christian life and faith are passions of mine.

Healing Prayer (second installment)

Praise is something that is offered to God continually in heaven, so as we praise him, now, we join our voices with the cherubim, seraphim and all the saints who have gone before us and who now stand before his throne, night and day, offering praise. Ioffer praise throughout the day, and especially when I’m outside. The natural world seems to be acclaiming God’s glory at all times of the year, but especially now. I see in tree branches “arms” raised in praise. Flowers and shrubs also seem to be exploding in praise as well as the insects that dance around them. When I take my morning walk with Daisy, our sweet beagle, and I offer praise to the Lord, I often notice a rustling in the leaves on the trees I walk past. I fancy the breeze is caused by the wings of angels who gather around me as I offer God praise. If we allow our imagination to take flight we will sense the entire created order joyfully praising God with us. Continue reading

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Healing Prayer (first installment)

I noted how the first thing King Jehoshaphat did was call for a time of fasting and prayer. However, he did not begin his prayer with a cry for help. Instead, he began with an offering of praise. He called to mind God’s attributes, character and mighty acts: “O Lord, God of our fathers,” he prayed, “are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” (vv. 6-7) By beginning with praise, Jehoshaphat reminded his people of how trustworthy God is, by recalling what God has done in the lives of their ancestors. Beginning their prayer with praise would help them to trust that God can and will act just as powerfully in their own day. I have learned over the past months that such praise is essential in prayer for healing. Continue reading

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Light in the Valley of the Shadow of Death (part six)

Those who know me well, know that I thoroughly enjoy being an Anglican priest. Give me a congregation and I’m ready to go to work. So as I sat in the waiting room on that morning of my first appointment, with the verse from Philippians running through my head, I viewed the people around me as a “congregation” whom the Lord had set before me. I then prayed for my fellow patients, asking the Holy Spirit to direct my prayers. I made eye contact with those sitting nearby and smiled, with all the hope that was in me, asking silently for the Lord to mend their bodies and their hearts and bring to them the good news of salvation through his son, Jesus Christ. Continue reading

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