Prayer.
God has been speaking to me a lot over the past two months about this. Not in many words but in a still soft voice that keeps asking me why I don't pray more, why I read my Bible, write in my journal then proceed to get up and say I'll pray while I drive or soak in the shower. I say I want to hear from Him but do I take the time to really listen?
And He has been showing me how many people I am surrounded by that need prayer. Friends with loved ones passing away, broken families, friends and co-workers lost and in need of the Savior's love and forgiveness. I want to be the kind of prayer warrior that lifts up those around me continually, not just in words but in spirit. This last year it seems as though every time I turn around someone I know loses a loved one, or someone else knows someone seriously ill, tragedies seem to keep increasing. I know this is in part because I am growing older, know more people, and the people I know are growing older, but its still hard and raises my awareness of our mortality. This life is much shorter than I acknowledge most days, because lets face it, its much easier to say yea I know life is short, then push it away and continue living as if tomorrow is a guarantee. God has also heightened my awareness for the lost. I know that there are many lost at my work and school, and I lift their souls up in prayer. But a few months ago, I opened my eyes and realized, the lost weren't just at work or school or the grocery store, they were in my family. That hits much closer to home to realize that every holiday you are a witness to your own family, and that while you have been telling yourself they are a christian and dismissing the truth, they have not been walking with God. I realized with clarity that I needed to pray for my family, that I couldn't just close my eyes and say but they are a christian so I am sure they will get through this and turn away from the sin they are pursuing. I saw for the first time that they were as lost as my co-workers and classmates, and just as much in need of prayer and the Lord's forgiveness and strength.
So in short I realized that I was surrounded by people who needed God, redeemed or walking in sin, aware of the Lord or blind, on the mountain or the valley, surrounding by life or grieving because of death, both my christian brothers and sisters and the lost sheep need God's grace, peace, forgiveness, mercy, strength, comfort, redemption, and LOVE. I don't pray 12 hrs a day, or 8, or even 4 probably, but I am not keeping time on my prayer life. However, I have begun to lift my voice and prayers to the Lord more throughout each day, when He brings people to my mind who are struggling, instead of worrying my bottom lip and thinking oh I hope they are ok, I lift my voice to my Heavenly Father and say "God, please help them! Please intervene if its Your will! Please comfort them! Please use this situation that they might see You! Please open their eyes to Your love and redemption! Show them Your plan for their life!"
My prayer life has so far to go to be where I know God wants it, He wants to talk to me continuously, to always be in fellowship with me, and I am the one who hasn't given Him more time in my day. My prayer life will always have room for improvement, but I once again recognize that talking to God is just as important as reading the Word, because communication is VITAL to a good, strong, and lasting relationship.
In addition to realizing the weaknesses in my prayer life, another thing I have been learning from the LORD is the power of prayer. I have been reading Isaiah and now Jeremiah and it amazes me how merciful the LORD is to our cries and prayers. How often He turned back His wrath because of a righteous man's plea for mercy.
So I will close by encouraging you to think about the people in your own life, do you pray for them? Do you pray with them? Do you pray? How often? Ask the LORD to challenge you and convict you if, like me, you realize your prayer life isn't where you want it to be. The church of Jesus Christ, us, His body, need to build each other up and strengthen one another in prayer for this battle is not easy, and join together to pray for our lost and sinful world.
May God Bless.
