Claudine’s story reveals how prayer can become a natural rhythm woven into every moment of life. From morning surrender to evening gratitude, her walk with God shows what it means to live the Shema—loving God with heart, soul, and strength in all things.
Prayer Is Life: Living the Shema in Everyday Moments
Claudine’s story is a living picture of what it means to pray “without ceasing.” Her life is saturated with prayer—not as a ritual, but as a relationship.
Each morning begins with surrender. Before her day unfolds, Claudine takes time to hand her thoughts, worries, and plans to the Lord. When peace feels distant, she doesn’t turn inward—she turns outward, lifting others in intercession. It’s her way of practicing what Jesus taught: to deny self and love others through prayer.
At night, her rhythm continues. She reflects on her day, asking, Where did God show up? Then she offers gratitude for His presence and faithfulness. It’s a daily examen of sorts—an honest dialogue between Creator and child.
Throughout her workday as a grievance counselor for hospice patients, prayer flows naturally into her care for others. In moments of deep sorrow or stress, she doesn’t rely on her own strength. She leans into prayer as refuge.
Her way of living reminds us of Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This is what it looks like to live the Shema—to love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength—not just in moments of crisis, but as the foundation of everyday life.
Claudine describes herself as a “tita”—a strong, outspoken, no-nonsense local woman. Yet she’s quick to acknowledge that her ability to speak with grace doesn’t come from her own effort. “It’s the Holy Spirit,” she says, “that guards what comes out of my mouth.”
Her story reflects the wisdom of Proverbs 21:23:
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
And of James 1:26:
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
For Claudine, prayer is the daily discipline that aligns her strength with God’s gentleness. It transforms her natural boldness into Spirit-led compassion.
She also reminds us that prayer isn’t reserved for the few who have the right words or perfect faith. “Sometimes,” she says, “I don’t even know what to say. I just sit, and God knows.”
This echoes Romans 8:26:
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
Claudine’s life embodies a simple, profound truth: prayer isn’t about performance—it’s about presence.
When we pray honestly, when we show up as we are, God meets us there. Prayer becomes less about what we say and more about who we’re becoming.
Through her story, Claudine reminds us that prayer isn’t just something we do—it’s the way we live.