Tonight I had a great run. I ran seven miles and it felt good. When I run, I take the opportunity of complete solitude to pray. So running seven miles means I have more opportunity to pray for more people than if I went on a four mile run.
I believe Prayer transform lives. I've seen so many amazing answers to prayer in my life already. If I were a better writer, I'd put it all down in a book someday. The power of Prayer is very underestimated even by the most faithful church goers. It's so easy to rely on oneself to get things done without taking the time first to pray about it. We don't realize how much easier life is when we take our problems to the one who sees it all. He knows what's ahead for us. He knows what's best, and he knows what we need before we even do.
It reminds me of the story about Peter and our first meeting with him when we reach heaven. As he shows us around the big open space with the golden streets and the gates of jewels, he shows us a room filled with beautifully wrapped gifts. They are in a long, long, warehouse building all sitting upon shelves unopened. They are all wrapped in bright white paper with red bows attached.
"Who are all these presents for" you might ask.
"Oh," says Peter. "They are all the answers to prayers that the people on earth never asked for." James wrote "You have not because you ask not." God is just waiting to hand us our gift, but we never ask for it.
Who do I pray for? Well I pray for my husband. I pray for my three boys. I thank God for the two that are strong in their faith and are walking with him. This is an answer to prayer. I pray for the third son who is not so faithful. I pray that God will move him and that he too will be the strong spiritual leader his family needs him to be. I have faith that it will happen in time. I pray for my daughter in law that she will be the godly mother that God is calling her to be. I pray for my grandson that he will love God, more than life itself and that he will make his mother proud as my three sons have made me proud.
I pray for people in my community. Sometimes as I'm runniing by their homes, I pray for them regardless if they know God or not. I pray for church members that come to mind. I pray for those battling illnesses, those involved in marriage difficulties or those who have work related issues. I pray for our church as a whole that God continues to bless and protect us as he has done so faithfully every step of the way. I thank him for his many blessings in my life and the lives of those I know.
I pray even for those here on JU. I pray for the young families like Tova's, Gid's, Jill & Brad's and Jythier's. I pray for Tova's husband and ModMan's nephew Christopher who are so far away fighting for us. I pray for Sodaiho, SC Lula and MM as well. I also pray for those who have nothing but unkind words for me here. I find it's not even hard to do. It's a blessing to pray for them.
Christ said to pray for your enemies; even those who spitefully use you and abuse you. He gave us the best Christian example when he looked down from the cross and prayed, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
I believe the world would be a much nicer, safer, kinder place if more and more people spent time in prayer. I don't always pray as I ought to, but I find the more time I take out to do so, the more blessed I am. I guess it's just me liking to get "presents."