PART DEUX

 Last week's post on Thursday brought many good comments and emails.  You guys have no idea how it makes my day when you enter a discussion with me on any  posted subject.  If there are no comments, I sometimes wonder if I am talking to myself.

The subject was prayer--and specifically when we tell someone we will pray for them.  The next logical question is  do we actually pray as we stated we would?  Perhaps it is just me--but when we do not follow through ---it is a really big deal .  I have let the one needing prayer down and God sees my forgetfulness and neglect of the one who asked.  NOW---bear with me on this---BUT God knows our needs and does not have to be reminded of them BUT it does bless Him when we acknowledge His greatness by going to Him in prayer.  Further that with our acknowledgement of His great power and ability to intervene in our circumstances and we have put the problem at the feet of His throne.

Of all the comments, and there were many---I came away with two additional thoughts on our faithfulness by praying.

1.  MANY---gave me examples of how they remember to pray.  I loved them all.  One reader has a Prayer Jar that they physically write down the request and put it in the jar to be pulled out during their time of prayer.  Great idea!  First we engage our brains by physically writing it down (several did this) and then we pull it out and read it--once again searing it on our brains.  One reader prays for the one who asked and then lets them know by sending a message, "I just prayed for you".  What an encouragement to be notified you are being prayed for!  Many of us--including me---immediately pray for the one who asked.  We all agreed the  promise to pray is not to be taken lightly.

2.  One of the things that occurred to me while discussing this  via email with a reader is that we do not have to pray an epistle.  God knows our needs---even before we figure them out.  He does not need reminding, but does desire us to lift one another up to Him.  There are times--when I pray a name and tell God His will is always best, but I want to bring this person before His throne.  "His will be done" is sometimes difficult to pray--especially when we want what we think would be best.  BUT GOD---someday we will understand, but He is always pleased when we come to Him in prayer.

Perhaps you have other thoughts.  I KNOW it can be overwhelming as a Believer living in a fallen world all those who need and sometimes have asked for prayer.  We can count on the Holy Spirit to impress upon us---those we need to lift.  He will do His part---now we need to follow through with our part.  A simple prayer---no long winded declaration is necessary--only a simple prayer.  And I love the reader who acknowledges to the one in need-they have prayed.  What a wonderful way to show our concern."  

""Confess your faults one to another,

and pray for one another,

they you may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

James 5:16