I'm Praying For You

"I'm praying for you!"

Several years ago, I was a member of The First Christian Church of Owasso, Oklahoma. We were actually members there twice, but that is not important right now.

At that particular time, FCC Owasso was without a Senior Pastor. The former pastor, who is now the Senior Minister, had gone to serve another church . We were blessed to have several different faculty members from Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri come and teach us on Sunday Mornings. All were greatly appreciated, but one man in particular believed that it would be better if our members saw the same face every week. And so, he agreed that he would preach every week in Owasso. What a gift that was to us, to see the same face and hear God's word come from the same voice. That face and that voice belong to Jeff Snell.

Jeff is a gifted preacher and teacher; there is no question about that. Anyone who has heard Jeff speak knows this is true. However, his preaching and teaching is not what makes Jeff special to me. Jeff is my friend. Let me tell you about what happened on two consecutive Wednesday nights. We were already friends, but we became closer then.

At that time, Wednesday night church was almost as important as Sunday morning church. Wednesday nights began on Wednesday afternoon when preparations for dinner began. Wednesday night dinner...sometimes spaghetti, sometimes taco salad, sometimes "baked potato bar." Oh yea, the homemade poppy seed dressing. It was the best.

When his scheduled permitted, Jeff would come to Owasso on Wednesday nights. On one such Wednesday, I approached Jeff. This was not unusual, as Jeff and I are friends. When I had the chance, I told Jeff that I was facing a particularly challenging week. I asked him if he would "pray for me." He said he would, and that was that. This is not unusual, because as Christians we regularly ask for prayer or offer to pray for others. We are instructed in James 5:13 - 16 to pray for one another. So, when Jeff offered to pray for me (the first Wednesday), I was not surprised. But honestly, I wasn't impressed either, because this is what Christians do...we tell other people we will pray for them.

What threw me was what happened the following Wednesday. I came into the Fellowship Hall, ready for spaghetti, taco salad or whatever (including poppy seed dressing.) A few minutes later, in came Jeff. Jeff has about three hundred pounds of energy in a one hundred and fifty (on a good day) frame. In fact, one Sunday he was preaching on stage and he told us that he needed to step out for a minute and gather his thoughts. Instead of leaving the room, he just turned sideways. We could still see him, of course, but just barely. I think he really thought he was hiding. Sorry, I just had to add that. Nevertheless, in came Jeff. He made it a point to take me aside and he asked "How was your week?" And then he said it. "I prayed for you this week!"

I laughed as I thanked him. He asked why I was laughing, and I said "Jeff, we don't really pray for each other." Oh, we say we will, we intend to, we even plan on it, but so often we don't. What made this special was that Jeff actually did it! To be honest, I was moved. He took time from his day and remembered me to God. I'm not even sure I prayed for me, but Jeff did! Thank you Jeff!

Why do I share this? I do because last night, a friend told me that he was praying for me. He is praying that our house in Oklahoma will sell. (I am, too!) He told me that he was praying for my marriage, and I have a good marriage. He told me that he is praying that I will find a job. My friend's first name is Brad, and his last name is not important. What is important is that he is praying for me.

How often do I enter into God's presence, the very holy presence of God, and tell God what I need? Even more than that, I tell Him what I want. There is an old song that puts it something like this:

"Give me this, give me that, bless me Lord I pray. Grant me what I think I need to make it through the day."

God wants us to ask Him for what we need, and I am pretty good at that. But, you know, I am not as good at asking God for what you want...or for what you need. If I would pray for you, and you would pray for me, all of our requests would be presented to God. Additionally, I would get to see the look in your eyes when I told you "I prayed for you this week."

Who are you praying for? Who am I praying for? I'll tell you what...I will pray for you. And you, if you remember, please pray for me.

Thanks...I'll see you!

When God is quiet

I wrote the title more than two months ago. My wife and I have been praying for the sale of our house for more than two years, and it still has not sold. We have also been praying that I will find a job that will provide for our financial needs and for my need to work. Our house has not sold. We have prayed, and prayed, and prayed and prayed.

I have basically quit praying about this. God knows we need to sell the house, so why should I continue to pester Him about it? Is there a magic number of times that I need to say "God, we need to sell our house?" A certain number number of times I need to ask God to bring a buyer for our house? What is the number? I am at a disadvantage, because I have not kept track of how many times I have already asked, so do I need to start over?

I believe prayer is as much about changing me as it is about talking with God. What I don't understand is what I need to change. I know people are praying about this, and still God either says "no" or "not now." They are the same...they both prevent us from moving on.

Why doesn't God move on this? Does He care about the sale of our house? I have always believed he cares about everything. Jesus' words about worry are recorded in Matthew 6:25 -33

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Easy to hear, hard to do. I entitled this "When God is quiet." As hard as it is for me to accept, maybe God is not quiet on this topic after all. maybe, just maybe God has already spoken on this. Maybe I just wasn't listening...