If i can be transparent with you, i will tell you that prayer has never been one of my strong spiritual disciplines; something i have always struggled with, but desired to make more a part of my daily life. During Summer Fused: Drop-in 2011 i, along with my team members, prayed more than i have ever prayed in my life, and with an honest heart believing God would answer in 1 of 3 ways: yes, no, or wait. An incredible situation occurred. Everything we had prayed God would do and provide during our two weeks was answered with a very definite "yes," and even then some. We asked at the beginning for there to be a fair amount of young ladies, we had 3/4 of the Drop-in attendance be young ladies. Then in the second week that number was increased even more. We asked that God prepare the young people coming to the program to have open hearts and willing ears to listen to our talks about the Gospel and what Christ has done for us. They not only listened, but interacted in deep spiritual discussions and even began asking questions. My favorite part was that they allowed us to pray for them, interceding on their behalf to the Almighty. It's amazing what God will do if we just let Him!
Recently while i was at a Tuesday morning prayer meeting, i brought one of the young ladies who volunteers with the drop-in with me to the meeting. She was quite nervous and afraid of whether or not it would be ok for her to join. i reassured her that it's an open prayer meeting for young and old, new or long-time followers of Christ, who want to unite together to talk about the ministries in the area, lift broken hearts for the brokenhearted of the community. When she finally came along she was one of the most encouraging to me of all because she prayed for me specifically, by name, and for things i had asked prayer for during the meeting. i want to encourage everyone that if you have the urge to pray for someone, out loud, with them in your presence, DO IT. Her prayer was so powerful to me it nearly brought me to tears. It wasn't so much the words she was saying, but thinking that someone was using what i believe to be one of our most powerful tools as the body of Christ to intercede for me. i have come to two conclusions: 1. prayer is powerful and impactful when done for others and out loud in their presence and 2. it is hard to feel disdain for someone for which you pray. i know some of things i've struggled with most are that which friends have prayed for and with me about in the past and it has truly made all the difference.
James 5:16 proclaims:
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.i have seen this ring true in my own life, my prayer is that you venture to experience it as well. Take time today, whether right now or when you are able to simply get away from the hustle and bustle of your day and pray with God. The Hebrew language, with the use of the word prayer, literally meant a back adn forth, give and take, talk and listen. Talk to God, but also listen to what the Father is telling you. He may speak to you through a person, His Word, or Himself. He may reveal Himself and His will to you through a circumstance or by another means, but He will speak to you, He longs to hear His child'ss voice, just as a father with his son or daughter here on earth. They may know you need or want something or that you are having a difficult time with a situation, but there is something deeply moving in a parent when a child comes, clinging to their parent and pouring their heart out to them. We are His most prized possession, don't you think He'd like to talk with us about our lives, our struggles, and our joys? Talk with the Father, He's always there, always listening, always willing.
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