If we are going to pray like
we have never prayed before we are going to need to stretch our prayer lives.
From time to time in the months to come I will make suggestions of ways to
increase the quantity and quality of your prayers. But at this early point I am
suggesting something so simple that many of you will discount it; a prayer
list.
A godly deacon in the church
I pastored in the 1970s used to pray, "Lord, help us to pray for all those
for whom it is our duty to pray." His prayer reminds me of the words of
Samuel after the people had demanded a king. "God forbid that I should sin
against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you." There are people that it is
your duty before God to pray for. And the only way I know how to consistently
pray for them is to write their names down and discipline yourself to pray for
them.
God can use a simple prayer list to stretch the
compassion of your prayer life. As I have made lists and committed to pray for
people on a daily basis God always prompts me to pray for people I don't really
like. I am often amazed at how God expands the dynamics of my relationship with
Him as I discipline myself to pray for that person I am tempted to envy; or to
pray for that person who slighted me and so offended my pride; to pray for that
person I disagree with; to pray for that person who disgusts or intimidates me.
I know of no more effective tool for stretching my shriveled unchristlike
attitudes than praying for people God impresses me to pray for on a consistent
basis.
I have considered praying some of the imprecatory Psalms over an enemy or two! Psalms 7, 35, 55, 58, 59, 69, 79, 109, 137 and 139.
ReplyDelete:-)
Just teasing!
Also, love and convicted by that statement by Samuel! Has led me to prayer on many an occasion. And the question has come to mind as to exactly how the lack or ceasing of prayer is actually a sin against God?
ReplyDeleteLoving God and loving your neighbor are commands. Can you obey either if you are not praying for people God loves?
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