Who Are You Praying For?

  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—Ephesians 6:18

 Who’s praying?  I ask that because I realize how unbelievably blessed I have been because someone has always been praying for me---my whole life I have always known that I had not just one person, but multiple people calling my name out to God.  Even when I when I wasn’t living my life for Christ, people were still praying for me.  Is that the reason my faith in Jesus is so strong?  Did all the prayers keep me away from harm and evil, or keep harm and evil away from me?  Would I be who I am today if I didn’t have people praying for me?  I would like to think that no matter what I would have found Jesus, but I don’t know.  I do know that those prayers were heard and I do know that those prayers certainly impacted my life---as to what extent, I will probably never know.  So why have I been so fortunate when some people never had one person say a prayer for them---I don’t know, but I can’t help but think of Luke 12:48…But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.  Is more required of me?  Yes, it is.  Am I living like more is required of me?  Not like I should be.  So I say all this to ask you the same question I have been asking myself…who are you praying for?  For years I have prayed for every member of my family daily, I would pray for those who are sick, I would pray for those in need of something, and I would pray for those who have asked me to pray, but what about those that don’t ask, those that are not a part of my family, or those that are not sick or seem to be in need---what about them?  This all hit me a few months ago as I was praying for my son.  I was driving down the road alone saying a prayer for my son when I was overwhelmed with the thought that not all 16 year old young men have someone praying for them like I pray for my son.  In fact, the thought of one particular young man came to mind and I began to weep for him.  Then I started praying for him, I prayed for him like he was my son.  I still pray for him and others that God lays on my heart. 

Funny thing …before this moment I always thought this scripture meant that I should work harder for the Lord, that I should try even harder to live a Godly life, and that I am more accountable to God.  While I still believe it does mean all these things, I also think it means to simply pay it forward.  It is a given that I will  pray for my family daily,  however, when I pray for those that may not have anyone praying for them I feel like I am fulfilling this scripture.  So I challenge you to find someone to pray for---not sure who?  Be still and listen to the voice of God and I promise he will lay someone on your heart, someone you may not even know, but someone who needs to be lifted to the Lord.  So who are you praying for?

Picture Jesus!

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report;      if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,                          think on these things.  

Philippians 4:8

So for the last few days I have been dwelling on the words of a good friend.  She and I had been a little frustrated (ok, a lot frustrated) with some things going on and we didn’t react very well to the situation.   We both felt bad and knew that we shouldn’t let things get to us like this, but sometimes we both would give in to the flesh.  She told me after thinking about everything, she thought I will not let things and/or people frustrate me to the point of me losing my witness---so she said I am going to start picturing Jesus in my mind when I feel the frustration rising up in me.  Starting at his feet and moving to his face I will think about Jesus.

Now I have put this to the test and when I start picturing Jesus in my mind, I couldn’t help but think about who he truly is and what he has done for me.  It is impossible to get upset, frustrated or mad when I do this.  I go back to a lesson that I learned a long time ago----‘Just Say the Name of Jesus’ was the name of the message and it was about when you found yourself in a situation that you didn’t know what to do, you didn’t know what else to say, you couldn’t find the words to pray---just say the name of Jesus, there is power in the name.  In fact, Matthew 1:21 says, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  Even before he was born, we knew his name and knew that he would save us. 

So why do we slip so many times, why do we allow ourselves to get so frustrated with the woes of this life?  I may not have all the answers, but I do have this one… Satan.  He is the root of all evil, he is the author of confusion, he is the father of lies and he will do whatever it takes to get our eyes off Jesus, which includes getting angry and frustrated with things that really don’t matter.  So why wouldn’t we want to picture Jesus, when we are visualizing Jesus, our eyes, physical and spiritual, are on Him.

So as I begin a new week I will put this idea into action even more, but I have added something to go along with it.  I have found a couple of scriptures that I will focus on this week as well.  Psalm 37:8 says, ‘Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret---it only causes harm’ and ‘Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God’ I Corinthians 10:31.  These scriptures remind me that anger, wrath, and frustration can and will cause harm and that no matter where I am or what I am doing I am to do it with honor and glory to God. 

I know in my heart and spirit that I am a true child of God, that I am a chosen child of Jesus Christ---I just have to get that straight in my mind and act like it! I have to let go of the flesh that is trying to control my actions and allow the Spirit of God to overtake the flesh and guide me to living a life that is pleasing to my Father and a life that speaks loudly in promoting my wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ!