P1 = person number one
P2 = person number two (Christian)
P1 - I am going to be traveling tomorrow to St. Louis (to watch the Cubbies beat the Cardinals!)
P2 - I will be praying for your safe trip!
P1 - I have a terrible headache.
P2 - I will be praying that your headache goes away!
P1 - my cat was run over by a car
P2 - I'll be praying for your cat's complete miraculous recovery!
How many of you are guilty of doing this? You give a knee-jerk reaction to something said and tell the person you will be praying for them...
And then you don't do it!
People come to you for help and sometimes the only help they want is for you to be praying for them. You say you will do it and then you don't! You say you will pray because you know that is the right thing to say, but if your prayer life is not what it should be, then you most likely will forget to do it.
Ephesians 6:18 says...
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Acts 6:4 says...
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Philemon 1:5 says...
Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
The simple truth is, we are told to pray. We are told to put on the armor of God and be armed with the Word of God. There is power in prayer and when we tell people that we are praying for them, and then don't do it, we are failing in our walk with Christ to do as Jesus has told us we should do. To love all the saints and to love our neighbors.
We all know that telling a lie is a sin. In fact, without repentance all liars will have their part in the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:8 says...
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Think about that the next time you tell someone you will be praying for them. It is better to not make such a promise if you are not able to keep it. Be honest with them, with yourself and with God. Tell them your prayer life just isn't where it should be right now!
Will you be praying for me? Action speaks volumes about our faith! Can I trust you are faithful in your prayer life?
I'll be praying for you today!
I'm so guilty! :-(
ReplyDeleteI'll pray for you Michelle! no, really, I will!!!
ReplyDeleteill pray for you both!
ReplyDeleteim guilty too...but the best was when i went to south korea last year.
ReplyDeletemy pastors in indiana have told me whenever i go abroad to inform them and give them my schedule because they will pray especially for that in addition to their morning prayers (they pray for ever member in the church)
so, i told the current pastor in taiwan that i was going to south korea. he said, "ok, have a nice time." i said, "can you remember to pray for me specifically while im there." his reply, "why would i do that?"
it has to make a person wonder what kind of prayer life that pastor has in his personal life. Doesn't sound too strong. It is a shame that he is leading others without have a prayer life for others and with others.
ReplyDeleteThe church I go to just bought a new building (well, here a space). It's huge, you know the first thing you walk see when you walk into it? A huge coffee bar. But they balance it out with a small prayer room. They are starting 24/7 prayer and "soaking" like IHOP. *cringes...* (I'm going to put some pictures on my blog I think).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, there still is no clear Gospel message. Easter was void of it. The message was all about me and my belief.
I'm holding a Passover Sedar at my house and I am inviting the pastor and his family as well as unsaved. I will use this as an opportunity to share the Gospel since the passover lamb forshadows Christ's work on the cross.
So...pray for me!!!
thank you for your faithfulness to doing what so many Christians should be doing. It is hard to believe that pastors need to be taught but as you have seen from some of the trolls (who happen to be pastor's and youth pastor's) have come to my site, they just do not know the Truth of God's Holy Inspired Word. My prayers are with you.
ReplyDelete