Pray Like This!
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We have a
very meaningful prayer time at the beginning of our weekly Bible study class. Those
in attendance are invited to share their concerns and needs during this season
of sharing as other friends around the study table are taking notes that will
inform their continued praying throughout the week. As you can imagine, our
class of thirty active attenders, in their maturing years, have many concerns
related to health, family, friends, and the world.
This Sunday
an individual was very distressed. She had shared a concern about losing her health
care provider because her medical insurance company dropped coverage of her preferred
doctor and hospital. After the class and on the way out of the room, I saw that
one of our retired professionals was sitting by this individual and advising
her of some options. She had tears of relief and thanks streaming from her
eyes.
The early
church was known for its deep fellowship, holding all things in common, and exhibiting
a vibrant prayer ministry! This is an example of the church working and serving
at its best! When Dr. Luke characterized the newly founded church of the first
century, he wrote these words, “They committed themselves to the teaching of the
apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42, Message).
Dr. William
J. Fallis noted, in his little commentary on Acts, that this “fellowship was
enhanced by their prayer life.” After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit gave them “a
new enthusiasm for, and facility in, praying… In the gift of the Spirit, they
discovered new power through personal prayer.” (Studies in Acts: The message
of Acts in all its dramatic, challenging power, p. 21). The themes of enthusiasm,
power, and increased facility or natural readiness for prayer stand out! Their
prayer life impacted their fellowship with one another!
On the second
Sunday of the month, we have been encouraging our church to join in a special season
of prayer at the end of the worship service. The response has been slowly growing.
We face some obvious headwinds, since this prayer time occurs after worship and
just before lunch. Usually, most of us are ready to break for the doors to “beat
the Baptists” to their favorite restaurants! 😊
The
pastoral staff has asked some of our retired pastors to facilitate this prayer
time, down at the front, where we have prayer rails for kneeling. Yesterday, as
I was receiving individuals for special prayer, a dear lady came forward holding
a piece of paper with the names of a half dozen or so of friends that she
wanted me to join her in praying for them. I was immediately taken by her
sincerity and concern. I said to her, “Dear friend, we could use a whole church
full of concerned pray-ers like you!” She simply smiled and then we prayed for
each person by name. I did not need to know the specific requests, because God was
already working according to His will for each individual!
There is
power in persistent and patient praying. Jesus told an engaging story, one day,
about a persistent widow. He introduced the story by telling his disciples, “That
it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.” He then
summarized the story with this probing question, “But how much of that kind of
persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when He returns?” (Luke
18:1-8, Message).
One of the hardest things for me is to “keep on keeping on” in my praying. I am not patient by nature and waiting works on me! The manager in me wants to manage the situation and move things along. This isn’t how God works! The Holy One, from eternity to eternity, works on His schedule and He rewards those who persistently pray (and stay with it!) until it is God’s time to answer.
The sweet lady who came to pray for her friends at the church prayer bench exhibited a patient, unhurried quality in her humble prayer request for her friends. Lord, teach us to pray like this!
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
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