I Say A Little Prayer For You

When I was a kid and if something was troubling me, my mom would almost without fail say, "Well, did you pray about it?" A few years ago, my youngest sister Lydia was too scared to stay alone in her bedroom one night. So, Lydia went to Natalie's room (Natalie's eight years older than Lydia) and Natalie told her to get out. However, before Lydia turned around to leave, Natalie said, "Did you tell Mom, what did she say?" Lydia said, "Mom said to pray and trust the Lord". Without missing a beat, Natalie said, "Well, trust the Lord and get out of here."

My family always gets a kick out of that memory when we reminisce about it. Even though Nat really didn't want to be bothered by her "kid" sister, there was some truth in what she said about trusting the Lord and going to Him for everything. I remember my mom always telling her friends and complete strangers that she was praying for them. Sometimes, when my dad came home from work and told her a story about a struggling co-worker, my mom would ask him if he told them that he was praying for them. My dad would say that he did pray for his co-worker, but neglected to tell them because he wasn't as vocal as my mom about it.

Recently, the topic of prayer has been on the forefront of my mind because I was in two situations with a group of Christians that made me uncomfortable. The first incident was during our prayer request time at one of my Bible studies. Usually, we spend 30 minutes gathering requests and then praying. I know that we can go to God at any time and He expects that from us, but does He care about etiquette when it comes to group prayer?

I'm not being legalistic, but it does seem that there is a time and place when presenting your prayer requests before a group-especially if the group is of mixed company and it is not clear if some are true followers of Christ or if there are some still searching. For example, I wouldn't share something intimate and personal in a group because it can cause people to squirm with discomfort and it's not necessary for others to know except someone who is close to me. It seems that while God is not usually concerned with etiquette as the Pharisees were, He is concerned with the heart of the person.

I love telling stories and sometimes they can become long-winded ( my family would say, "Sometimes???") but that doesn't mean it's necessary to share all of the details. I know that I've been convicted about trying to shorten my time so that I don't take someone else's prayer request time. And yes, my stories and requests are significant to me, but they aren't necessarily edifying to those around me and it begs the question, am I pleasing the Lord or do I just enjoy listening to myself because someone gave me an imaginary mic? Again, I'm not trying to be legalistic,but when I hear someone give a ten-minute prayer request and story, it's sometimes hard for me not to roll my eyes in my mind and struggle with the urge to look at my watch. I should be mindful of the same and get the log out of my own eye.

The other incident that occurred was when our leader stated that our prayer requests should be ones only of the gravest concerns. He said that God has given us what we need right now at this time and that if we are to present our requests, it should be those that are of dire needs. I sat there bewildered and wondered about those verses that state that we are to pray unceasingly, that we are present our requests to God, and that when we are troubled, we are to seek Him. I understood what our leader was saying, but it also conveyed the message that God is only concerned with the big requests in our life. When our leader told us this, I think the group didn't present their requests because they weren't sure if it was "worthy" of asking the Lord. I think what he intended was that during the short prayer time in our group, we should present meaningful and thoughtful prayer requests. He wanted us to be more concerned with the heart issues of our friends/family than their physical conditions. Thankfully, the next week that we met, even our leader presented a request that wasn't grave in nature and it opened the doors for others to share. This was another time where prayer within a group called for etiquette and consideration.

I don't care what anyone says about prayer, it is NOT easy and it is laborious. Prayer takes discipline, trust and humility. Without these three, it is difficult to have a meaningful and close relationship with the Father. For me, I pray for the "silliest" things and I also thank the Lord for the "insignificant" things as well. If I need to feel cool while running, it is not unusual to ask the Lord for a gust of wind. If I've found a close parking space at Costco, I'll find myself praying aloud, "thank you Lord." God wants us to have such a relationship with Him that we can "casually" ask Him or thank Him for something. After all, "Abba, Father" means dad or daddy.

When I was a kid, I always thought of my dad as the protector of our family and nothing could get by him. In the same way, God is my protector and He is for me, He has my best interest at heart. My job is to trust Him and know that His ways will always be the solution. When I've laid my heart's desires, struggles, sins and requests at His feet, they are not mine to bear. In order for me to do this freely, I have to remind myself of the truths and attributes of God. I must remember that whatever will happen is already known by the Lord and that my responsibility is to either trust Him for the future or succumb to my own emotions and attitude. This I know, when I trust Him, I am physically and emotionally well.

As I've matured in Christ, my requests have decreased and my adoration and thanksgiving has increased. God has softened my heart to be more purposeful in bringing praise to who He is rather than what He done for me. He has also made the Cross real to me and whatever pain I experience (even this pesky wisdom tooth that recently has surfaced and is constantly poking my cheek), either emotionally or physically, it is nothing compared to the death of Jesus.

If you've ever struggled with praying, let me encourage you and remind you that prayer is like our need for oxygen. We MUST pray and be in constant communion with the Lord or we may have shortness of breath, or stagnation in our walk with Him. So, just as Steven Curtis Chapman sings:

Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way

Every moment of the day, it is the right time

Let us pray without end and when we finish start again
Like breathing out and breathing in, let us pray

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

He made the storm be still,

and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,

and he brought them to their desired haven.

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,

and praise him in the assembly of the elders-Psalm 107:28-32

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it-John 14:13-14

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,-Ephesians 6:18

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus-Philippians 4:5-7

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind-James 1:6

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord-James 5:13-14