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!