CHAPTER 11

 

STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER

 

As a child, I really never knew the wealth and depth of Christian Songs for children, but after listening to artists like Psalty and the Donut Man, innumerable times, I’ve started to grasp a real liking for these simple works of art.  I’ve been embarrassed, at times, as I found myself walking around the office singing songs like “Jesus Loves Me,” and “This Little Light of Mine.”  The Colonel doesn’t seem to mind until I add the hand motions to my aria.  Before I embarrass myself any further let me get to the point.  There is one song that goes like this, “Its not my mother or my father but its me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer” That’s the path I want to go down.  It took a lot of explanation to get that out, but now that we’re here, lets figure out together, what I’m trying to say.  (Let me also add a PS here.  I’ve been known to make things up to suit myself, so if the words to the song are wrong I apologize, and if no one ever wrote it, I have first dibs). The point, or may I say points, because there are more than one that I wish to make, is this In order to develop a relationship with God you must get to know Him.  To get to know God you must have a dialogue with Him, and this exchange of information is called prayer.

 

After my discussion about my singing habits, I know you think I’m one fry short of a Happy Meal, so I hesitate to tell you some of my other idiosyncrasies, but here goes.  I also go around work talking to myself, and no, I don’t have money in the bank.  I’m really not talking to myself, but God.  But since God is this divine, spiritual being, and invisible, I just look like I’m talking to myself.  But I’m not!  But, I do!  I can see I’m not increasing your opinion of me, am I? 

 

You see, St. Paul said that you are to pray always, and that’s what I do.  I share my experiences, throughout the day, with God, both good and bad.  Sometimes I must sound like an old lady (no offense meant) to Him, but I figure He was the one that started this relationship.  He’s the one that said He wanted to be my God, and have me to be His creation, so Lord, here goes, and I start a communion.  One thing I am learning, though, is that to make it a dialog, I have to let God say something back.  If I don’t, it's a monologue, and very few relationships develop that way.

 

A natural question, on your part, is how does God speak back?  How does He communicate with His creation?   Well, one way is through His Holy Word; another, is by listening to a brother and/or a sister who is mature in his/her faith; and, sometimes, I just hear a voice whispering in my head, and after checking all spirits, realize that sometimes, this is God talking to me.   A word of caution here, MAKE SURE YOU TEST ALL SPIRITS!  Sorry to write so loudly, but it is a very important point to make. After my wife read this she bought a shirt for me that says, “You’re just jealous because the little voices inside my head don’t talk to you.”

 

The next point that I wish to make is this. Before you go praying for the entire world and their problems, address your own shortcomings to the Lord.  Yes, you must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. But you also must repent of your sins, and ask God for forgiveness.  When you sin, notice I didn’t say IF you sin, but when you sin, go immediately before the throne of God and ask for forgiveness.  When you do, with a truly repentant heart, you are forgiven. 

 

I know you know what I’m saying is true.  It’s like this; if you hurt someone, and you never say you’re sorry, don’t you feel uncomfortable around that person?  Soon you’re going out of your way to avoid that person because you’re afraid of the conflict that will incur.  But how do you feel after you have asked that person to forgive you?  After you confronted the problem between you and the individual, and hear the words "I forgive you".  At peace, no?     You have your friend back, and your relationship is stronger because you weathered a storm together.  That is the point I’m trying to get across.  When you sin, and hurt God, you try to avoid Him, and sinning becomes easier.  When you confront your problem, asking God for His forgiveness, you are now at peace with Him.  Especially when you hear Him say "I forgive you.  "

 

There is another point I wish to make here.  When God forgives you, accept that forgiveness.  We are so hard on ourselves, drumming up things from the past that have already been forgiven.  I heard a gentleman on Christian Radio the other night. Unfortunately I missed his name, but the point he was making was called FIDO.  Yes, FIDO, like the dog!  What he said it stood for was “forget it and drive on.”  “Forget it and drive on,” what a great philosophy.  I would like, now, for you to develop that attitude.  Learn from the past and then drive on.  Remember, when you’re born again the old you is dead.  Bury the old person and live as a forgiven son or daughter of the King.  You’re the Prodigal son after his father placed the signet ring back on his finger.  A member of the family!

 

After you have your own house in order, then start praying fervently, for your brothers and sisters, the church, your government, heck, the rest of the world. Pray humbly for all.  Ask God, if it’s His will, to use you to serve those you’re praying for.  Ask God to guard your tongue.  Ask God to give you the strength to reach out to all in need, to be sensitive to their needs; and to lovingly and gently reach out to restore a brother or a sister from sin.  As St. Paul states in Galatians 6, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”

 

The scriptural passage that explains best  the points I’ve been trying to make, up to this spot, is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16.  “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.  Test everything.  Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil.” 

 

Prayer is probably the greatest weapon in the Christian’s arsenal, and, unfortunately, it is the most under used weapon.   Jesus, our example, was always sneaking off so that he could have personal prayer time with His Father.  Jesus kept His spiritual muscle strong through the power of prayer.  Again, it’s unfortunate that many of us talk the prayer talk, but few of us walk the prayer walk.  As we see in St. Mark’s gospel, chapter 9, there was a man who brought his son to Jesus’ followers, and they could not heal the boy.  Privately, his followers asked Jesus why they could not heal the boy.  Jesus’ response follows: “This kind can come out only by prayer.”  Be like Christ, able to heal those demons that can only be cast out through a strong prayer life.

 

Prayer is the glue that keeps the Christian’s life together.  It’s the bulletproof vest that deflects the shots taken by Satan. It’s the exercise program that keeps the Christian strong.  It’s the Ma Bell to the heavens!  Prayer helps the Christian develop his/her faith.  Faith helps the Christian develop his/her love; and love, through Christ, is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.  A complete Christian’s life is like a woven robe.  Love, faith and prayer are individual pieces of thread woven together, so that none could tell which is which.  The completed garment shows no sign of beginning or end.  It just is!  But if a strand of thread gets snagged, and starts to unravel, the entire garment is ruined.

 

In closing, I would like to challenge each and every reader to become prayer warriors.  I’d like to challenge you to pray as if your life depended on it, because it does.  I’d like to challenge you to actually pray for each person you promise to prayer for.  Conversely, I would like to challenge you to be humble enough to ask a brother or sister in Christ to pray for you.  Remembering the who, who is Standing in the Need of Prayer.  “Its not my mother, or my father, but its me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” Amen!