“Praying”

So easily I say “I’ll pray for you.” Is that true of you? Prayer, though, is not to be taken lightly. I have a friend battling the big C as I write this post. He won’t give up. I thought of him when I wrote last week’s post on perseverance. My friend’s courage and fortitude are remarkable and steadfast. The doctor expected him to pass on four years ago. Nothing doing.

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” –Matthew 18:20:

Today my friend asked his cyber community to pray for him. He wishes to stay in the game even though his body is taking a beasting. I am praying for him while I write this. Praying for my friend is the best way I can help him, other than penning a few encouraging words. Prayers for those who suffer implore. God is beseeched to do what only he can do. I believe in miracles. God tells us to ask. I ask in faith, believing God can and will do more than I ask or think, like scripture says.

Prayer is meaningful. We need to do the hard work of praying. There is praying, and there is PRAYING. Have you ever heard someone get down and pray with their whole heart. It brings you to tears. An African-American woman in the ‘Hearts Being Healed’ community can really, REALLY pray. I watched and listened to her for several months where she interacted with a leadership group for an upcoming conference. She prays with power and belief.

Prayer is consecrating. On the day of the conference, this woman anointed each of us speakers individually. My prayer partner’s finger tips rested lightly on my shoulders as she also prayed quietly. It was holy. The room filled with the holy hush of the spirit of God. Marvelous. The prayers were a blessing. With our eyes closed, my prayer partner said she saw dancing, joy and happiness in my future. Later, when I asked her about it, she said there was rejoicing and celebrating. After the event was over, I approached the wise African-American woman with a question. Before she answered my question, she said, “You have a deep walk with God, don’t you? I see this in you.”  Precious.

Prayer is powerful, especially when it attributes God’s full authority and gives worshipful praise. A friend with Nigerian roots, prays in an amazing way. His prayers start with giving thanks to God, the father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He proceeds to include many of the biblical greats intermixed with thanksgiving to God. I asked him how he learned to pray that way. He said he asked God to teach him how to pray. His prayers are like a history lesson with life to them!

Prayer is beautiful. Les was eighty-nine and was losing his ability to finish his sentences, but boy could he pray. I loved listening to him pray. My neighbor Millie would have my family over for a meal, and then she’d ask Les to pray. His prayers were gracious, thankful, kind, and full of praise. Nothing was a request, all was praise and thanksgiving from the heart. His prayers were rich, like poetry. An artist and interior designer in Berkley, CA in his younger days, his love of beauty came out in his expressions of thanks to God. His mind was clear when he prayed.

Prayer is humble. The sinner’s prayer, Lord have mercy on me a sinner, is a prayer of contrition of heart. I didn’t realize its simple goodness until I became familiar with it in a liturgical framework of worship. Prayers are not a performance. A genuine prayer is for God, alone. God ministers when the prayer is lifted from the heart to our beloved Father God.

Prayer is multiplied. Prayers of like-minded Christians are precious. Heart-felt prayers for a specific need have a quality of unity and oneness. Tender. Real. Vibrant.Pray with your whole heart.