Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
817 2023
May I Pray for You?
“The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.”
Psalm 6:9
Even seen an old friend at the supermarket and they told you a sad story? And you said, may I pray for you? Did you ask yourself afterward, why didn’t I say that? Why didn’t I just pray a simple prayer? Lord be with them, help them, help them in Jesus’ Name! They would have said, thank you sooo much. Because no one refuses a prayer when they are in the middle of a crisis. Even non-Christians. What a light that is. What a powerful statement that really moves people. It gets to them! It’s called the Holy Spirit. You were just being obedient. Or were you?
Sermon Central posted a moving story to make that point;
What does it do for you when someone says, “I pray for you”? A missionary and his family were forced to camp outside on a hill. They were carrying money and they were fearful that thieves might rob them. After spending time in prayer, they finally fell asleep. Several months later, a man that had been injured was taken to the mission hospital. He asked the missionary if on that special night, they had soldiers guarding them. The man said to him,
“We intended to rob you, but we were afraid of the twenty-seven soldiers.”
When the missionary returned to his homeland, he shared this story with his church. One of the members responded, “We had a prayer meeting that night, and I took roll. There were just twenty-seven of us present.”
Some of you may have never seen anything happen as a result of your prayers. Your prayers seem to lack power. Maybe you don’t know how to pray effectively.
Paul in Colossians 1:8. talked about praying for a town that was doing great. They were loving God, praising God, sharing their wealth, and growing but He talked about praying when everything is going great. OK, but who does that? Who leans in when all is good? Who acts like a pre-super Bowl party when everything is on an even keel? What does that say to you about the concept of giving yourself away by saying: May I Pray for You? Maybe I didn’t even ask if there was something I can pray for. Maybe it’s just, I have this urge from God to pray for you, Could I pray for you?
Paul said in Colossians, “Since the day I Heard about you, I have not stopped praying for you”. What kind of example is that to follow and to want to aspire to? What?
The truth is most wait for a crisis to pray and too many don’t do much praying then either. But what about making it a staple of the clothing we put on every day? For your family and friends who are doing well. Why not pray for them and praise god for the grace and mercy he is showing them?
God is not a slot machine. You don’t get to name it and claim it because you have a named storm during the hurricane season of your life.
My Mom has been praying for me my whole life. She tells me every day. I mean every day, and I know it’s true. How many of you know you made it back to God because of a praying family member who wouldn’t let go of you and wouldn’t let go of God for you? Or maybe you have forgotten. Truthfully most of us will never know the intercessor in Grece or Shina that stood in the gap for us. When will it be your time to answer God’s call to pray without ceasing? 1 Thes 5:17. You did know that it is a command…right?
The Old Testament prophet Samuel said concerning his responsibility to the nation of Israel: (1 Sam 12:23) “God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” … Don’t stop praying for one another. Don’t stop praying for our President and the military – or our schools and the poor and unwed mothers and absentee fathers, keep on praying.
Who does that? Shouldn’t we? Can I be an edifying voice crying in the wilderness to CRY OUT? What did the prodigal son feel when he came home willing to just be a servant but was still called a son…met by a praying Father who never ceased praying for him, who put a robe, and jewelry on him and threw a party for him who was dead is now alive. Have you ever been the prodigal with that type of story…even in part… So thankful to be home or have a home or even to just have somebody or a church to begin again?
When is it time to be thankful for things going well? Kevin and Maria just had a baby…Roman is perfect…Isn’t that something to be thankful for? Maria was in a high-risk pregnancy and in pain but one Sunday morning she came down for prayer and she was healed. She came back from a doctor’s office the next day saying, the Doctor said the baby is now in a perfect position. I am no long high risk. It was a miracle. Were they thankful?…will they ever forget their miracle child? Are they thankful now to see him whole and perfect? Can you just see them staring at him for hours about what a gift of love he is? Thankfulness is a key element in praying.
Thanking god ahead of time for what he is going to do.
Declaring his presence in upcoming events.
How about asking God for His direction? How about praying for the knowledge of his will? Are you praying your prayer or are you seeing what the Father is doing as Jesus did? He said in John 5:19 “ I do nothing I do not see the father do”. His word unfolds the knowledge of his will, but he can give us prophecies at times to give us a new direction too.
May I pray for you? Would you reach out in the comments below and let me know…let us know how we can pray for you. Did you know there is an average of 300 people who read with us every day and we are growing? That is an army of prayer warriors if you will share and ask for family prayer. God is listening and he will deliver not by our might or our power but it will be completely by His spirit, saith the Lord!
God of all my days. Casting Crowns
