I've been saying this a lot lately. I've been typing it to blog friends. I've been saying it to real life friends. I've been writing it in cards. I've been saying it a lot. Then I saw this blog, and I felt I needed to think about it some more. Do I mean what I say, when I say I will pray?
I believe prayer is a powerful thing. I believe intercessory prayer is a super duper powerful thing. When I tell someone I will pray for them, I try to do it immediately. I wish I had the nerve to pray with a person, out loud, when I tell them I will pray for them, in person. I think I've only done that once or twice. I'm just not comfortable doing that. However, I don't think this makes my prayers any less powerful. And, what if the only time I pray for the person I've agreed to pray for is this one time? Is this not good enough? When I said I would pray, did I mean I would pray every day? Does my prayer need to be in a certain form to be a legitimate prayer? I don't think so. Lastly, what if I don't pray for the person I said I would pray for? What if I forget? Does this make me a liar? Or, does the agreement to pray count for something?
I used to pray more often and on a regular schedule. I don't do that now. Sorry, but true. I think this is why I'm eager to pray for people, when they ask for prayer. It gives me a reason to pray. I used to pray for one thing, for myself, over and over and over. God didn't answer this prayer. So, I more or less stopped praying, for myself. It wasn't that I thought God didn't hear my prayer. It was more like, I thought, God didn't want to answer my prayer, for whatever reason. The biggest reason, I thought, was because I had been too sinful and I had not confessed all my sins. I know this most likely is not the reason, but this is what I thought.
Now, intercessory prayer, I think, is a different animal. I'm not praying for myself. There is no hint of selfishness in these prayers. Even though I may have never met those I'm praying for in person, I have faith that the God I serve knows them intimately. I have faith that the God I believe in and trust is the same God those I pray for believe in and trust. It connects us. It links us together. Even if we never meet on this Earth, we are connected through God. Praying for other people strengthens my faith in God. I am grateful for the opportunity to pray for others. It makes me glad when I'm asked. It feels authentic when I offer.
I hear others say they will keep people in their thoughts. I don't know if this means they don't want to say they don't pray or it means they don't want anyone to think they believe in God or a higher power. I don't think it is more authentic than saying they will pray. I do understand the fear of being thought of as a Christian. If you admit to being a Christian, in certain company, you may be looked at with a raised eyebrow. I'm not sure what keeping a person in one's thoughts can do for anyone, but there you have it.
I have been praying for others a lot, lately. I'm praying for you, Brandee. I'm praying for you, Lynn. I am praying for you Em. I'm praying for you, Elizabeth. I am praying for you, Jan. I'm praying for you Lynne and Ellye. I'm praying for you Linda. I am praying for you, Kati. I'm praying for you, Dan. Thank you all for allowing me to pray for you. Thank you for reminding me the God we love cares about us and answers the prayers of our fellow believers.
If you find yourself with a desire to pray, feel free to pray for me or any of the names listed above. I'd love to have other believers holding me up to God in prayer. I've got some real fears about the new turn my life is taking. I'd love to be able to give these fears away. I'd love to let them go. :)
I believe prayer is a powerful thing. I believe intercessory prayer is a super duper powerful thing. When I tell someone I will pray for them, I try to do it immediately. I wish I had the nerve to pray with a person, out loud, when I tell them I will pray for them, in person. I think I've only done that once or twice. I'm just not comfortable doing that. However, I don't think this makes my prayers any less powerful. And, what if the only time I pray for the person I've agreed to pray for is this one time? Is this not good enough? When I said I would pray, did I mean I would pray every day? Does my prayer need to be in a certain form to be a legitimate prayer? I don't think so. Lastly, what if I don't pray for the person I said I would pray for? What if I forget? Does this make me a liar? Or, does the agreement to pray count for something?
I used to pray more often and on a regular schedule. I don't do that now. Sorry, but true. I think this is why I'm eager to pray for people, when they ask for prayer. It gives me a reason to pray. I used to pray for one thing, for myself, over and over and over. God didn't answer this prayer. So, I more or less stopped praying, for myself. It wasn't that I thought God didn't hear my prayer. It was more like, I thought, God didn't want to answer my prayer, for whatever reason. The biggest reason, I thought, was because I had been too sinful and I had not confessed all my sins. I know this most likely is not the reason, but this is what I thought.
Now, intercessory prayer, I think, is a different animal. I'm not praying for myself. There is no hint of selfishness in these prayers. Even though I may have never met those I'm praying for in person, I have faith that the God I serve knows them intimately. I have faith that the God I believe in and trust is the same God those I pray for believe in and trust. It connects us. It links us together. Even if we never meet on this Earth, we are connected through God. Praying for other people strengthens my faith in God. I am grateful for the opportunity to pray for others. It makes me glad when I'm asked. It feels authentic when I offer.
I hear others say they will keep people in their thoughts. I don't know if this means they don't want to say they don't pray or it means they don't want anyone to think they believe in God or a higher power. I don't think it is more authentic than saying they will pray. I do understand the fear of being thought of as a Christian. If you admit to being a Christian, in certain company, you may be looked at with a raised eyebrow. I'm not sure what keeping a person in one's thoughts can do for anyone, but there you have it.
I have been praying for others a lot, lately. I'm praying for you, Brandee. I'm praying for you, Lynn. I am praying for you Em. I'm praying for you, Elizabeth. I am praying for you, Jan. I'm praying for you Lynne and Ellye. I'm praying for you Linda. I am praying for you, Kati. I'm praying for you, Dan. Thank you all for allowing me to pray for you. Thank you for reminding me the God we love cares about us and answers the prayers of our fellow believers.
If you find yourself with a desire to pray, feel free to pray for me or any of the names listed above. I'd love to have other believers holding me up to God in prayer. I've got some real fears about the new turn my life is taking. I'd love to be able to give these fears away. I'd love to let them go. :)
