Category:

Called to pray for people

8/6/2023

We have many ways to pray for people--lift up their names….tell God exactly what we want God to do … and everything in between. Theologically this is called intercessory prayer, but the term feels too formal, too impersonal, too privileged, too….
For me to say, "I am called to be an intercessor," sounds highfalutin--a call that suggests vain glory, not a God call which, by its very nature is humbling and replete with mercy.
Occasionally I tell people, "I feel called to pray for people." But not often because the call is in the doing between God and me, not in any proclamation to the world. It is not a job, such as teaching . It is between God and me, and sometimes I feel called to let people know I am doing it. Fine, but that's not part of the call.

Accept the mystery

3/10/2023

My best friend is having a shoulder replacement today. It may be happening right now. I have asked friends to pray for her . I know they are and I know their prayers will make a positive difference. The mystery of faith, however, is that I don't know what that positive difference will be. It may be just what I want--ease, no pain, a quick recovery. But it may mean something else. The mystery is that we don't know, the faith is that we believe it will be for the good. Even when things happen which are obviously not good in any of my usual ways, I try to turn to God and see, hear, touch, taste, and smell what God is offering me, which I believe is of the good.
Today I pray for my friend, accepting that so much is a mystery, believing that God is with her and with me, and knowing that is it of the good.

Prayer works

1/15/2023

I want to tell you what I have recently learned about prayer. Not only what I learned about prayer but what I now know! Prayer works. Prayer makes the difference in the hope we can feel and in what has actually happened.
Last week my grandson was randomly attacked in broad daylight on a city street. The assailant got away, my grandson was helped and taken by ambulance to a hospital to get stitches. He is now under the care of a skilled physician and will be back at work this week. That is only the skeleton of the his story, but it is enough for my purpose here. One might say that his story is my testimony.
When I heard this news I started praying and then I began contacting my prayer friends—a group in my church and a small group outside of church. When I say prayer friends, I mean friends who really pray. That’s what was needed, PRAYER. The responses from these friends showed me their different prayers, wording, emphasis. One was not better than the other. Each was from the heart, human heart to the heart of God’. Intercessory prayer, heart to heart, prayer working.

Prayers for Damar Hamlin

1/7/2023

I think it fair to say that everyone is offering their own version of thoughts and prayers for Damar Hamlin. This outpouring of love began the minute Darmar fell on the field from cardiac arrest. It started with his teammates, then to the other team, the fans in the stands, those watching on TV. The news media picked it up and the story kept going, way beyond the usual life span news of a football injury.
So why did the outpouring of love move beyond that moment on the field? Why were Darmar’s first words upon become conscious, “Did we win the game?” Why are people contributing to Damar’s charity toy drive? Why has Darmar just told his teammates over a video meeting, “Love you guys”? Why is this still as story on the top new shows?
Why? Because while the medical corp was doing its job, everyone else on the field started praying as they formed a human prayer box around Damar. The fans on the field saw this and they prayed. Viewers saw this on their TV screen and they prayed. As the news spread, the news of Damar and the news of the prayer box, more people prayed. And this prayer is continuing , prayer of love, not just for Damar, but for good to happen in the world.

Praying--it is enough!

11/28/2022

Here’s my challenge: What to do when I don’t hear from a close friend that I know is involved with a serious problem? I pray for her; I reach out to ask how things are going; I pray some more, daily; I don’t hear back; I keep praying.
Writing this for you, my prayer diary friends, most of whom I don’t know personally, helps me hear God’s answer. So thank you being there. Yes, I hear the answer—keep praying. If there is something my friends needs me to do, she will reach out. She knows I am here as a friend if she wants personal contact. She knows I am praying. It is enough!

Healing Power #5

8/30/2022

Discussions about intercessory prayer often begin with a question. In my previous post Henri Nouwen posed one. Today, I ponder a question by George MacDonald (1824-1905), Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister: “And why should the good of anyone depend on the prayer of another?” Although he is confident enough to answer, he does so with another question: “I can only answer with the return question, ‘Why should my love be powerless to help another?’”
MacDonald was writing at a time and place when the Christian theology of a loving God, who created human kind in God’s imagine, was accepted and believed throughout the culture. I love his nineteenth century response, which I believe is an affirmation of the power of love; but must work through twenty-first century intellectualism and skepticism to turn his question into a statement of faith: my love is powerful enough to help another.

Healing power #1

8/15/2022

Physical healing, emotional healing, psychological healing, situational healing! Healing can seem so obvious—you get better! You go from something bad, uncomfortable, and fearful, to no longer feeling angry, afraid or sick. You are now are loving, healthy, calm. You feel healed.
   That summary just rolled from my finger tips to the screen. I didn’t have to do much thinking because like many people, I know what bad things need to be healed and the results of what this healing might look like. As a person of faith, I am intrigued with the healings Jesus performed and how they might translate into what we, 2000 years later, might do.
   Jesus prayed, and so I pray. I pray to discern my part in God’s healing; I pray for God’s healing love to surround a person or situation; I pray that my loving heart reaches out to God’s loving heart; I pray Jesus walking with the person needing healing. I pray as I am able, which is the best I can do, all I can do. I’m not looking for results or proof that I’m on the right track, or for some amazing healing, or for some cause and effect result .
   I don’t have THE ANSWER, but I know and have come to believe that healing happens through prayer. Through reading and prayer I have been gathering ideas about healing. I will share them in subsequent posts.

Praying in the mystery

6/19/2022

In our prayers we often admit that although God already knows the situation, we’re going to pray anyway. We may be serious, but when I think about praying such a prayer, I feel disingenuous. At best, such a prayer helps me be more compassionate toward the person or situation prayed for. In other words it helps me, and for sure I need help in that area.
If that is the most that prayer does, however, I will remain an egocentric person because I am praying for my own salvation. Maybe I’ll be moved to help the person or situation, but there has to be more.
Let’s look at this another way. What happens when we believe that our prayer has an affect on God, that in some mysterious way we can change God. I say mysterious because I keep my prayer in the mystery. My words are brief and unspecific; they touch on asking for love. I visualize light and love surrounding the person or situation. I breathe. That’s it. In faith I know that my prayer is heard; in hope I know that my prayer is answered; in love I know that all is well.

Pray for peace

1/7/2022

I feel so frustrated/sad/angry/fearful/responsible/arrogant/righteous… for the vitriol in our politics. AND, I know that it isn’t just in others with whom I disagree; it is also in me. “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me,” goes the song.
I am hearing that I am to pray for peace, which means that I stop listening to the news. But I want to have it both ways—pray for peace and also feel superior and righteous about my point of view. Would you please say a prayer for me about this?

Intercessory prayer

8/30/2021

For thirty or so years I have known that God has called me to pray for people. I’ve always resonated with that phrase pray for people, rather than to be an intercessor, which sounds hierarchical, elitist, and privileged. Well, it isn’t. Is myriad ways and with myriad words, Jesus called us to join him to be prayer people and intercessors. So, I am letting go paying attention to terms. What is important is that God prays and God’s call us to pray.
Intercessory prayer can be a lonely task if I let it be. And yet, it only happens with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in community with me and the person I’m praying for.
The Holy Spirit is always present. When I pray for someone I picture them walking with me and then Jesus comes and the three of us walk together and then the two of them walk off and I stay by myself with God. As they go with Jesus I feel released from worry and fear I might have about them. When my worries and fears return, I pray them back with Jesus.
On a good day I know that I am answering God’s call and that God is answering my prayer. Some days, and some prayer times, it is all about me and I forget God. God knows all about that; thankfully God keeps me tethered.