Do you have a prayer partner and/or group, a church, or maybe even an online buddy that you go to when the chips are down and you are out of dip? Or maybe you call on this/these soul(s) when you really need someone to speak to God on your behalf. Even though you may not have had contact with this one for a while, when the help is needed, you know just where to go to find assistance.
Last week in the Bible Study Class I go to, Susan asked at the end if there were comments, questions, or maybe a challenge anyone wanted to make. Without much hesitation--and because I am so in need of it--I challenged my girls to write me a prayer. “Write,” I said, “because when you take the time to put it on paper, it gives you the opportunity to really think about what and whom you are praying for. Write,” I said, “because when you just type it, it doesn’t take the effort to show you are giving this more than just a quick thought. Write,” I said, “because--even though your handwriting may be awfully hard to read and your words may not be discernible--it makes you slow down and focus.” I can’t wait to see what they come up with!
I later mentioned this to my hubby and challenged him to do the same. Imagine my delight when the very next day, he wrote me a prayer! Of course, being the grammar Nazi that I am, he cautioned me that it hadn’t been edited too closely. Twirp! Anyways, he handed it to me and I asked that instead, he read it to me. Talk about getting personal! But, there’s just something about hearing as well as reading something that can be quite effective.
As the (at first) sweet words came from Steve’s mouth, my heart warmed and I was humbled at how much this man still loves me. I noted how he used one of my favorite passages in his prayer and was tickled that he took this into consideration for his prayer for me. And then…
And then the next words. “And Lord help her to think before she speaks and consider before she acts.” I beg your pardon, Steve?! My flesh was just about to get itself in a dander when my soul flooded with gratitude. Yes! Yes! This man gets me! This man loves me enough to call me out on what I need most to implement into my life! This man cares enough about my spiritual condition to address the fault and the admitted flaws I have confessed to him. Even if it might hurt my feelings a smidge, my husband cares enough about my eternal testimony and witness to pray for one of my most obvious needs.
Then, did you see the last part he wrote? He asked God to be kind to me in His dealings with me not if but when I mess up. Ouch and aww. Steve knows me well enough to know that I am human and will indeed falter in my actions. And he knows our Jesus well enough to know that His mercy will be there when we cry out for it.
In conclusion, I did send my gals out a prayer this week. But, I copped out. I researched some scriptures and found passages where I replaced “you” with their name, as I love to do for myself. I printed them on some pretty stationery, jotted down a quick note at the bottom, and put them in the mailbox yesterday. Yes, this took some work but no: no I didn’t handwrite them. I can use the excuse of my awful handwriting til the cows come home but the truth of the matter is that I didn’t do what I asked someone else to do for me.
Faithful, fervent, righteous prayer, Stef?
Umm...Sort of? Mostly?
Ahem.
Okay, okay. I will do it over. I will take the time to write down a prayer for my fellow studiers. I may not get to each one before we meet again but I purpose to.
I don’t want to just write something to write something, you know what I mean? I don’t want to be quick and careless with my words. Instead, I want to consider and deliberate on whom each woman in my class is and address her individually and thoughtfully lift her up to my Father. The notes I sent out did this but they used another’s words. This time I shall, with the Lord’s help, use my own.
Which reminds me, I made this promise to my husband as well. I may need extra paper and pencil for his!
Let’s pray!
Dear Lord, what a blessing it is to get to talk to You anytime, anywhere, with any method available! Whether it’s a whisper, a time spent on my knees, a quick thought as a song or snippet of a conversation brings a certain someone to mind, or whether it’s a collective prayer for many or a note written, song sung, or genuine heart-to-heart with You, prayer is my avenue to getting help to clear up the fog. Sigh.
We are a needy bunch, we children of Yours. May I take--make!-- the time to speak to You about the desires of my loved ones’ hearts is my hope today. Even when it hurts and the issue may need You to be firm with them, I ask--as my beloved Steve did--that Your mercy flows as You refine them into the gold they are destined to be.
How I love You, Father, and again thank You for letting me talk to You. What a Friend! Thank You for being mine. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
