Bells and prayers

Bells and prayers

We’re currently staying in a small village in Italy, just a few metres from the local church. One thing we quickly noticed is how the church bells ring every 30 minutes. While some guests might find it disruptive, for the locals, it’s a regular call to pause and pray. It made me think about how infrequently I actually pray. It’s easy to fall into routine—a quick prayer before meals or at bedtime—but often these become more habit than heart. They don’t always deepen our relationship with God. Yet Scripture calls us to more. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). The bells have become a beautiful reminder that prayer isn’t meant to be reserved for certain times. It’s meant to be woven into every part of our day. A thought lifted to God in the quiet. A breath of thanks in the busy. A whisper of help in the stress. Maybe what we need isn’t more time to pray, but more reminders that God is right here, ready to listen. So today, let the bells of life—moments of joy or difficulty—call you back to Him. Open Bible – https://bit.ly/1th5v16-18 (Hannah H)