Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Be Available...

In the middle of the night I heard a name being said. It wasn't my name, but someone else's. It was somewhat of a startling feeling, but I knew I hadn't heard it with my "physical" ears, but with my "spiritual" ones. I lay there thinking about it for a moment when I heard it again. Someone's name that I didn't know well, but as soon as I heard it, I knew exactly who this person was. Their identity was clear, but I didn't know what God was trying to say about them. That fact didn't matter, it was just the Holy Spirit's way of letting me know I needed to pray for them.




Have you had something similar happen to you?

I imagine most Christian's have at one time or another, felt a burden on their heart for someone or some "thing", that was totally "off your radar"; something or someone that wasn't in your day-to-day thoughts or interest. The question is, what did we do about it. Did we dismiss the thought as being weird or creepy or even psychic? Or did we take a minute to go to the Lord and ask. "was that You, and what would you like me to do about this?"

I found out many years ago that God really wants to communicate with us, and that one of the first steps in moving into a deeper relationship with Him was being open to praying for others. God longs for intimacy with our heart, mind, and spirit. He desires that we take time to be open for His work, and one of the most important things we can do as a believer is to raise up our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer, and yes, even those who don't know Jesus.

via google images


Prayer can be somewhat of a "mysterious" thing, an aspect of our Christian walk that is expected, and at the same time misunderstood. I remember when I first started seeking a deeper relationship with God that I was involved in our prayer ministry at a very large church. We each took turns praying for different ministries within our church. The college ministry, was one in particular that I had a deep affinity for because of my own daughter who was in college, but not attending church at the time. I knew there were kids there that were Christians that were living way outside of the scope that God had in mind for them. We would be given "outlines" of how to pray for these different ministry groups and the leaders. At first it was somewhat rote and methodical until I realized this was the perfect opportunity to let God be more specific in my prayer time. At first I was hesitant because I didn't want to get too "personal" but sometimes that's how God is enabled to do His work. He would bring young people's names and faces to mind during prayer time, and I could tell there were things that God wanted to do in their lives. Sometimes God reveals things to us about others so we can pray specifically, other times we don't need to know the details, just bring them before the Throne so God can get to work.

And that brings me to one of the great purposes of prayer, giving God the "go ahead" and invitation to "get to work" in the situation. People who are not "pray-ers" don't realize the importance of calling upon God to be involved in our lives, and the lives of those we care about. God works through His People and desires that we be participants in seeing His work accomplished. I used to have the idea that God was capable all by Himself to see His will done, and people be saved. What I didn't understand, that while that is absolutely true that He is Sovereign and Almighty, He chooses to get the rest of us "involved".

So the next time you feel that tug to pray for someone, just take a moment to do it. Don't put it off, God is calling you to invite Him into the life of the person He's speaking to you about. You may or may not know the outcome of that prayer, but be sure, God has His purposes, and He knows those He can entrust to be doing His work. And let me also assure you, not only will you be doing God's work, He will begin to open those lines of deeper communication with you as well.  Be available to God, He'll take you up on it!

love in Jesus,

12 comments:

  1. God's timing is perfect...and He chose to use your voice in your blog to speak to me tonight...to let me know that He does indeed want me to continue my intercessory prayer for some loved ones who are struggling now to find their way. It is not generally in my nature to "sit back and do nothing"--I am the one who is usually in the forefront of the "doing". And I AM doing what He is allowing...but mostly He --quite obviously--wants me to keep praying...and holding up these people with what has come to feel like unceasing prayer in the very real sense of the words.
    Thank you for being the words of affirmation I needed.

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  2. I loved this post. So fun to see another side of the amazing decorating Debra!

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  3. Amen, Debra. I know what you mean about those whispers. Sometimes they're shouts. God knows and, he wants us to be a part of his purpose. As Christians, prayer should be a part of our very beings. Prayer for each other, and those that don't know Christ. Through blogging, and social media, I find myself praying for so many people I wouldn't have known otherwise. I'm grateful for that.

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  4. This is so good, Debra. I experienced this just today when seemingly out of the blue someone's name came to my mind. I was wide awake and it was a little startling! : ) I quickly felt that I was to pray for that person, even though I would not know what is happening with them.
    Thank you for the affirmation and encouragement to be obedient in prayer, even if we don't always fully understand what God is doing. Have a blessed week!

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  5. I call those moments "glimmers" Debra. Not being frivolous, but as in "of hope". They come at the oddest times and where sometimes I fail to see them. It's only days or weeks later I understand. When someone is laid on my heart, I know I must pray. I've been charged to do so even though I don't always know why only that I must. He'll provide the answers.
    Deb

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  6. love this, debra:) the older i get, the more aware i am to just such moments. enjoy your evening!.

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  7. Wonderful post. I have had that happen to me. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  8. I am wandering through blogs and so happy to have run into yours. I am learning to pray and any suggestions (or teachings) really help. I found this excellent advice. I should bookmark it and read it a few more times so I can really remember it! Thank you for your post honey... it helped me!

    Love,
    Patty

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  9. I love this post. I always pray when God brings someone to my heart. Sometimes I get an anxious feeling and think about a person, then I know I must pray. this happened late last night--I felt like I should pray for my father. So I did. The tug of the Holy Spirit.
    xoxo.

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  10. Here from Common Ground, and now, because of these beautiful posts, your newest follower.

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  11. I have experienced the same thing from God. He places someone in my mind so that I will pray for him or her. I've learned I should probably contact the person, too, because in some instances they died not too long thereafter and I was completely unaware of their situations. Isn't it amazing how He wants to use us?

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