Prayer: The Gate

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

Sometimes we go along not expecting too much.  You even hear people say to not expect much so you won’t be disappointed.  I heard the most wonderful story on Friday and I must share it with you as it involves miracles and expecting a lot.

I worked with Joe for 10 years and have known him for 25 years.  His wife Takiko, in her early 70’s recently had some severe medical problems.  She was in ICU for nearly 2 weeks.  Hospice has been there the day before as everyone felt all hope was lost.

Joe’s neighbor asked him if her prayer circle could go to the hospital and pray.  He said OK.    Well the prayer circle of 7 people went into ICU and prayed, and this woman spoke for the first time in a week and  said “Thank You”. She has continued to get better and stronger each day since.

Thank you God, for answered prayers and miracles!

Presents for You

My father used to tell me a story about someone who was new in heaven.  This person was getting a tour and a door was opened to a room filled with beautifully wrapped gifts.  When the person asked their guide about the gifts, the answer was they were hopes and dreams that people had given up just before they were to receive them.  Hold onto your faith.

Most Holy God,  The answers to prayers come in your perfect time. Yet, time seems like a tricky thing for some of us.  We all have hopes, dreams, and desires.  We all want to know there is a reason we are here.  We all want to  believe that the gifts and abilities you have given us can be useful.  We pray for hopes and dreams to be fulfilled.  Amen 

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 These adorable Canadian Geese goslings were going for a swim with their parents .  Do you remember being advised to swim or hike with a buddy?  It is friendlier with two, A.A. Milne wrote.  It is good to have someone to encourage us. 

I had read that geese honk at each other as the group comes in to land on a lake.  The theory is that they are cheering each other on.  We may never know for sure, but the idea is great.

We become quick to criticize each other.  There are  jobs that pay to criticize, and I have heard people appoint themselves at the perfect person to critique a project.  So who wants to be the cheerleader.  Is it a harder job?  I derive much more satisfaction in encouragement than criticism. 

Let us pray for each other, encourage each other, bring out the best in each other.  Swim with a buddy.  The world will be a more friendly place.

Today I am so grateful that many American servicemen and women will be coming home from Iraq.  I know some will remain in an advisory capacity, but I want them all to come home.

Holy God, I lift up the men and women who are coming back to the United States after serving in a war with a vague enemy. 

 I would pray also for the souls of all those who perished.  Help those who return to assimilate back into a peace-time country.  Let them find the help they need to adjust to time with family and find peace in their spirits. Let them know they are appreciated and respected.  Amen

Do you realize it has been 50 days since Easter?  What happened to the time?  It seems like Easter was a week ago. 

Fifty days after Easter is Pentecost.  We received a gift, and no small gift at that.  We got the Holy Spirit.  So what does that mean?  The second chapter of Acts describes the spirit coming like the wind of a storm and flames.  It is powerful.  In Romans chapter 8, Paul explains:

Romans 8:26 – 27  In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We now have a way,  to plug into God with the Holy Spirit interceding for us.  We have champion, an interpreter, a very cool gift.   Let’s remember to use it.

Gracious God,  I invite the Holy Spirit to fill me this day.  To bring that whisper of wisdom from you so I may know your will.  I stand in awe of the power you unleash and the love you have for your children.  I am humbled by the Spirit interceding for me with prayers that are groans too deep for words. Thank you God.  Amen

Matthew 18:20  For where two or three have gathered together in My name I am there in their midst.

As I meet and talk with people of various denominational backgrounds, a common challenge is revealed.  Prayer teams can be difficult to build and maintain.  Things always change.  Jobs and hours worked change.  Care for children and older people become priorities.  Class schedules, appointments clutter things up. People move or pass away.

The face of the prayer team is changing.  But, the purpose of the prayer team remains the same.  It is intercessory prayer.  It is a valuable and unselfish act of doing the most and best you can by coming before God on behalf of someone else.

I believe praying together is extremely important.  I wonder what holds people back from joining with a prayer partner or team?  If you have thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.

Here, I will offer suggestions about prayer partnering.  

• *Don’t hold out for, or expect a large team.  Be satisfied and delighted in finding one or two other people to pray with.
• *Leave politics at home.  It is important to be in agreement, and that is tough enough for two people to do on any matter of the heart.  When you bring your political view in, you may bring disagreement which will diminish your efforts in prayer together.
• *Pray for what you agree the outcome should be.  Don’t get caught up in a person’s troubles or disease.  Agree on, and pray for the healing and comfort for the person, pray for wisdom for the doctor, or skill and guidance for the surgeon.
• *Have grace and tolerance with different people’s styles of prayer.  Some use many words, some use few, some pause between thoughts, some don’t.  Simply work together. It can be like dancing, and you will get better at praying together.  That is the purpose.
• *Keep prayer requests confidential!
• *You don’t need to know the whole story on anything to pray for someone.   It is better, in fact, not to know too much. 
• *You don’t have to like them to pray for them.
• *You didn’t have to vote for someone to pray for them.
• *Don’t worry you don’t pray well enough to partner with someone.
• *Come into it with a heart for service and you will do fine.