Prayer: The Gate

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.

Holy God, we pray this day for people to be healed.  There are those who need to recover from surgery, some need to recover from flu and other illness. There are some who seek peace and wholeness in their spirits.  We thank you God, from whom all healing comes.  Watch over us all and keep us well and safe.  Amen

It is Wednesday in Colorado and I spent the morning with my prayer team.  Someone usually takes the cards from the pews on Sunday and the team is given request for this time on Wednesday.  I add many of the names here on the prayer request page and during prayer time we address the requests one by one.

There are always prayer requests for healing of sick family members, jobs, recovery for physical, emotional, or other health issues, travel mercies, etc.  There are also prayer requests for wisdom for government, strength and wisdom for teachers and students.  But today,  we had one from a child who wanted to pray that God would make their dog bigger. 

We do not take prayer requests lightly, and so even though I have no specific details about this dog or child; prayers were offered up.

I love faith through the eyes of a child.  Many things are so clear to them.  They take each day as it comes.  They delight in each discovery.  And far too soon they are no longer children.

It is not for me to say how this prayer will be answered.  As the intercessor my job is to bring the prayer before God, release it, and not tell him how to do his job.

 Maybe the dog will grow.  Maybe the child will accept the size of the dog and the desire for the dog to change will diminish.  Maybe the family will adopt another dog and it will be bigger.

We walk by faith and not by sight.  We also pray by faith and not by site.  Have a blessed day.  Amen

Merciful God, I confess that I have criticised people rather than praying for them. I have condemned them on hearsay and passed judgement without considering my own transgressions.  Forgive me.

Let me walk in grace today.   Grace that is not earned, but given by you. Let me bring hope and mercy to others by my actions.  May they know I am a child of God by the love I share. Let me pray for those in need.  The joy of the LORD is my strength.   When I am in a place joy and gratitude, there is no room for intolerance and hatred.  Keep me close and humble Father.  Amen