Where Would You Like To Go?

September 26, 2013

Praying for You

Prayer is easily one of the first things that comes to mind today.  We have heard from literally 100+ people who are praying for our family and I'm sure more that we are not even aware of...(chills).  The slightly ironic thing is that often it becomes something we as Christians or even "good Southerners" simply say.  "I'll be praying for you" it comes as easily as "Bless your heart".  It more often than not falls under the category of "good manners".  Am I right?

I am sure that I have fallen into that trap - making the comment lightly instead of truly intending to follow through with it.  Or perhaps, I had the best of intentions, yet just never did.  I believe that it sin.  My "yes" was not a "yes", I lied - unintentionally or intentionally - I did.  I made a promise to a person & to God and didn't live up to it.  Have I been forgiven?  Absolutely.  Should I have any desire to make the same mistake again? Absolutely not.

I can remember my mom bringing this to my attention at a young age - she was simply trying to share something the Lord had laid on her heart to do, but it has stuck with me.  She said that she tries her best when telling someone she will pray for them, to go ahead and pray right then - aloud, with the person.  Circumstances may not always allow for it, but the majority of the time it can.  It helped her to know she had already followed through with the promise and it helped engrain in her mind to do it again.  Both of my parents were and still are such great examples of prayer warriors.  They have always taught me the power & importance of prayer.  When I hear the verse
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."  Matthew 6:12-14
I think of them - I have never seen them pray with prideful hearts but always sincerely & humbly coming to the Father whether someone was watching them or not.

Growing up with this as my background, I often wondered why so often I could hear someone say:
"I can't do much, but I'll be praying."
"There's nothing we can do, except pray"
"I'm sorry I can't do more, but we are praying"
Now, I don't think that everyone who says these things means them in some horrible way (I too have made comments such as these), but I've found that often Satan uses tiny lies/half-truths that still "sound good" to cause us to stumble or to have others stumble.  Can you see how those could sound badly to someone?  That those statements (and others like them) could make someone believe that we actually devalue prayer?  Statements such as those often make me think someone thinks of prayer as a last resort - as a last ditch effort - or simply because they can't "do" anything better.  WHAT A LIE!  Oh friends, how powerful the opportunity of prayer is!!!

Psalm 107:28-30 "Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven"

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray 
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Over and over and over in His word, He tells us about the power of prayer.  The power to raise from the dead, to heal, to calm waves, to forgive, to receive grace, to have mercy, to be enveloped in peace, and on and on and on. We are to DEVOTE ourselves to it - for it to be the constant state we are in, to pray without ceasing.  We should share our requests with others freely and trust that they are being faithfully lifted up.  For He hears our prayers and things are changed through His power!!

I can't type this blog without mentioning that there are often times when what we pray for doesn't happen.  It may seem that God has not heard or that He doesn't care.  Those are also both lies.  He can not contradict Himself - He is TRUTH.  So, through reading His word, I know that He does hear and He does care.  He also does things to glorify Himself and draw people to His side and honestly, that's not always the easiest way to pray over things.  This doesn't mean that we decide not to pray!

Truth to take away?  Pray without ceasing friends - it is vital to our relationship with Him.  And a HUGE thank you for all of those who have been lifting us up - we do not take it for granted.

3 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting this! I needed to remember this today.

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  2. Great post! I could relate to it so much! I have tried to say my prayers for people when promised . . . almost immediately when promised . . .so I wouldn't forget and so my promise to pray wouldn't be just words or empty promises. You explained it beautifully and backed it up with scripture. I like that. Thanks for these powerful words on this quiet Sunday morning!
    -Tina

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  3. This is such a sweet post! There's power in praying!

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