Sunday, August 17, 2008

Weekly Prayer Thought

Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
Matthew 18.19-20

This passage often gets misinterpreted. Many people read these verses and mistakenly believe that if that can get someone to pray with them, they can get whatever they want from God. Although I reject this thesis, I believe that we cannot eliminate the passage or the meaning behind it. Here it is: God's plan for our prayer is that we would pray with others.

I know that seems awkward, cumbersome and maybe even impossible. But it is right. And it is true. Consider these advantages of praying together.
  • Praying together keeps us in line with God's will. It is hard to get too outrageous when someone else is joining us.
  • Praying together keeps on target in our prayers. We will be more consistent if we know that someone else is counting on us.
  • Praying together will increase our faith. We will be encouraged by the prayers and the faith of our prayer partner(s).
  • Praying together is God's will for our lives.

Before you give up your personal and private prayers, don't. Keep on praying always, in every situation, in every moment. Pray in church, at home, at work, in the car, at school, any where. But, be sure to pray with another.

Get a partner. Get in a group. Pray like crazy.

PRAYER: Give me strength, O Lord. Help me to be vulnerable enough to share my life with another and with you, and strong enough to be faithful always. In the name of Jesus I pray, now and always. Amen.

1 comment:

John G. said...

Prayer is perhaps the hardest part of being a Christian. It is far easier to subscribe to the laws and tenants of the Bible than it is to try to have a personal and meaningful prayer with God.

It does bring our very being into examination and exposes us to our faults and failings. Although we view it as exposing it to God, but we really know that He is already aware of everything about us . . . even the number of hairs on our head.

We are afraid to admit that we are imperfect when it comes down to our true inner self. It is one thing to admit that we need to diet and pray for help, but it is another to admit to far more personal and serious transgressions that tempt and haunt us.

We need to break free from the chains of self conciousness and embarassment and truly submit ourselves to God. He already know our hearts and reaches out to embrace us. Prayer is one way for us to reach back and receive His welcoming hands. When we stumble and fall is when we need most to be lifted up by Him, prayer can be our call for help or our song of praise.