Romans 15:30-33
Will you be my prayer partners? For
the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake and because of your love for me—given to
you by the Holy Spirit—pray much with me for my work. Pray that I will
be protected in Jerusalem from those who are not Christians. Pray also
that the Christians there will be willing to accept the money I am
bringing them. Then I will be able to come to you with a happy heart by
the will of God, and we can refresh each other.
And now may our God, who gives peace, be with you all. Amen.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Sometimes, “life” has a
cumulative effect…and this last few months has been no exception. We’ve
been left to ask “Why?” a million times with the unexpected passing of
several loved ones and friends. And now, a senseless and horrific
shooting in our little community has taken yet another friend, injured
his wife, and traumatized three of his five grandchildren.
There
is no “good” answer for why this happened. We trust that God has a
plan…but still we grieve and mourn – and scripture supports these
emotions. And when we can - as we can - we pray. I will tell you that
there have been countless times – sometimes for days on end – when my
prayers were jumbled at best. But there’s an answer for that in
scripture, too. Romans 8:26 tells us…”And in the same way—by our faith —
the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying.
For we don’t even know what we should pray for nor how to pray as we
should, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it
cannot be expressed in words.”
A lot of the time these days, I
truly don’t know what to pray for…I need direction, a renewed purpose,
strength, peace, comfort – and wisdom to offer encouragement and hope to
others. And there doesn’t seem to be an adequate way to express all of
this to God. But here’s the really cool thing…He knows anyway! God
knows what we need, and when we face times like this where our words
seem so inadequate – or simply will not come together in a way that
makes sense – the Holy Spirit advocates for us. And God gets the
message!
So will you be my prayer partner today? Will you join
me in asking God to meet our needs in any and all situations, from the
simplest of days to those when the whole world seems to fall apart?
Will you depend on the Holy Spirit to advocate for you when words won’t
come…and convey your jumbled thoughts to God in a way that they make
sense and express your deepest longings, heartaches and distress?
Will
you trust God to understand your grief and frustration – and to
orchestrate a way to manage all of this? Will you lay it all on the
line and allow God to make some sense of it all? Do you trust Him to do
this? Will you pray for others who are on a similar journey and
recognize that in joining with them in “corporate prayer,” we flood
heaven with a clamor so loud that it must ring in God’s ears?
I
know that God hears the tiniest whisper…but He can’t help but take
notice of the din of our corporate petitions. This day, let’s lay bare
our hearts and souls before God. If words fail you, simply say, “I’m
here, LORD…and I need you.” He will know what to do. Let’s ask God to
meet our needs – and the ones of those around us – according to His
will. And let’s trust that the Holy Spirit will fill in the details. I
am looking for Christian friends and disciples today who join in this
heavenly chorus. Will YOU be my prayer partner?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label intercessory prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label intercessory prayer. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 17, 2016
James 5:16
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy just cracks me up sometimes. He is the world’s worst to tell on himself! He will have a little “incident” at our house, and we will work through it and say, “It’s over and done. Let’s move on.” He might even ask, “Are you going to tell my mom?” We will tell him that there is no need for anyone else to know about what happened. And the first thing Timothy will say when he sees his mother is, “I was bad,” or “I had a problem” or some form of a “confession.”
Oh, bless this child and his innocence! Someday all too soon, he will probably learn to keep his “faults” to himself. It’s what we do. We pretend to the world that everything is wonderful…that we don’t make mistakes…that we don’t have struggles with everything from addictions to relationships to physical ailments and illnesses. In the words of the old Gillette Company antiperspirant commercial, we never let them see us sweat!
We are often far too proud to ask for prayer. This is such a simple request with incredibly powerful results…but we just cannot bring ourselves to do it – not even to our closest friends and relatives. We barely admit to God that we require help! We surely don’t want anyone else to know that we are just like everyone else – weak and SINFUL and in need of corporate intercession.
You don’t have to announce your deepest, darkest secrets to the world. But find someone you love and trust, and let them in just a little. Admit to this person that you have an area where you need prayer…and allow them to share in your burden – and your petitions. You will be amazed at the results - and the blessings - as you share your faith and discipleship with another.
So let’s take a page from a 7-year-old’s book today and “tell on ourselves.” Let’s let others see us sweat, just a little…in order that we can receive the benefits of their prayers and support. Let’s pray for others and receive THEIR confessions and prayer requests without passing judgment. And together, let’s begin to heal by the power of Jesus. Are you ready?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy just cracks me up sometimes. He is the world’s worst to tell on himself! He will have a little “incident” at our house, and we will work through it and say, “It’s over and done. Let’s move on.” He might even ask, “Are you going to tell my mom?” We will tell him that there is no need for anyone else to know about what happened. And the first thing Timothy will say when he sees his mother is, “I was bad,” or “I had a problem” or some form of a “confession.”
Oh, bless this child and his innocence! Someday all too soon, he will probably learn to keep his “faults” to himself. It’s what we do. We pretend to the world that everything is wonderful…that we don’t make mistakes…that we don’t have struggles with everything from addictions to relationships to physical ailments and illnesses. In the words of the old Gillette Company antiperspirant commercial, we never let them see us sweat!
We are often far too proud to ask for prayer. This is such a simple request with incredibly powerful results…but we just cannot bring ourselves to do it – not even to our closest friends and relatives. We barely admit to God that we require help! We surely don’t want anyone else to know that we are just like everyone else – weak and SINFUL and in need of corporate intercession.
You don’t have to announce your deepest, darkest secrets to the world. But find someone you love and trust, and let them in just a little. Admit to this person that you have an area where you need prayer…and allow them to share in your burden – and your petitions. You will be amazed at the results - and the blessings - as you share your faith and discipleship with another.
So let’s take a page from a 7-year-old’s book today and “tell on ourselves.” Let’s let others see us sweat, just a little…in order that we can receive the benefits of their prayers and support. Let’s pray for others and receive THEIR confessions and prayer requests without passing judgment. And together, let’s begin to heal by the power of Jesus. Are you ready?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 14, 2014
Philippians 3:12-14
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Fifteen minutes. That doesn’t seem like much time at all…until you commit to something for this duration. In the Walk to Emmaus community, a 72-hour prayer vigil is held during the specific events, called “walks”. Members of the group sign up to pray for the “pilgrims” and workers for a period of 30 minutes. When you are praying for a large number of people, 30 minutes goes by quickly. But what would happen if you committed to pray for ONE person for FIFTEEN minutes?
On this day when we celebrate love, a 24-hour prayer vigil was organized for Adam, a 40+ man who is battling Glioblastoma Multiforme, a.k.a. GBM…a deadly cancerous brain tumor. Adam has done better than many since his diagnosis…responding well to surgery, chemo and radiation for almost 18 months. Now “the beast” is raging…and Adam is fighting hard to be well for his wife, four sons (including newborn twin boys), and other family members and friends. Someone who obviously loves Adam and his family greatly organized this prayer vigil, and we were invited to sign up for 15-minute blocks of time to lift Adam and his family to God and cover them with intercessions.
Since I am a “night owl”, I took an early slot – 12:15 a.m. On the website where people committed to this endeavor, there were scriptures and suggested prayers, as well as ideas on how to prepare for the 15 minutes. Still, I found myself somewhat out of words by the 12-13 minute mark. And yet, I felt a tremendous joy and closeness to God as I petitioned Him on Adam’s behalf. I had also signed up for a 9:00 a.m. slot. This second time, the 15 minutes went by much more quickly. I found it easier to call on God for Adam and his family’s needs. Scriptures came to mind as I considered the myriad of thoughts and emotions that must come into play for them – not to mention the physical challenges. Before I realized it, more than a quarter of an hour had passed.
Interesting things came out of these two prayer times.
This would not take the place of our daily prayers. We would still pray for others. But each day, we would lift one particular person to God for a quarter of an hour and truly pour out our hearts for him/her. We would ask God to cover this person with His immeasurable blessings…we would mention specific needs if we knew them…we would call on God to do amazing, incredible, supernatural things in this person’s life.
Think about it. In the course of a year, we could each pray specifically and extensively for 365 people! Just as Paul says in this passage to the Philippians…I don’t count myself an expert…or even anyone particularly special in God’s eyes. But I did feel an incredible sense of “connection” as one believer interceding on the behalf of another. I was running toward God…and I could almost see Him standing before me with His arms open widely. If we all did this, imagine what the exponential effect could be for God’s kingdom and His children!
I’ve had a taste of how rewarding this practice can be…and how easily a 15-minute-habit could be developed. And I’ve decided to go for it! I can’t wait to see what God does in and through me as I reach out to Him and talk to Him so specifically. Next Valentine’s Day, I hope to look back at and marvel at how He worked in the lives of so many – including Adam - and how I have grown in my relationship with Him as a result of these daily conversations.
Fifteen minutes is really not a lot of time. But God can accomplish incredible things when we give Him a quarter-hour of our attention and petitions! Are you ready to see for yourself what He can do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Fifteen minutes. That doesn’t seem like much time at all…until you commit to something for this duration. In the Walk to Emmaus community, a 72-hour prayer vigil is held during the specific events, called “walks”. Members of the group sign up to pray for the “pilgrims” and workers for a period of 30 minutes. When you are praying for a large number of people, 30 minutes goes by quickly. But what would happen if you committed to pray for ONE person for FIFTEEN minutes?
On this day when we celebrate love, a 24-hour prayer vigil was organized for Adam, a 40+ man who is battling Glioblastoma Multiforme, a.k.a. GBM…a deadly cancerous brain tumor. Adam has done better than many since his diagnosis…responding well to surgery, chemo and radiation for almost 18 months. Now “the beast” is raging…and Adam is fighting hard to be well for his wife, four sons (including newborn twin boys), and other family members and friends. Someone who obviously loves Adam and his family greatly organized this prayer vigil, and we were invited to sign up for 15-minute blocks of time to lift Adam and his family to God and cover them with intercessions.
Since I am a “night owl”, I took an early slot – 12:15 a.m. On the website where people committed to this endeavor, there were scriptures and suggested prayers, as well as ideas on how to prepare for the 15 minutes. Still, I found myself somewhat out of words by the 12-13 minute mark. And yet, I felt a tremendous joy and closeness to God as I petitioned Him on Adam’s behalf. I had also signed up for a 9:00 a.m. slot. This second time, the 15 minutes went by much more quickly. I found it easier to call on God for Adam and his family’s needs. Scriptures came to mind as I considered the myriad of thoughts and emotions that must come into play for them – not to mention the physical challenges. Before I realized it, more than a quarter of an hour had passed.
Interesting things came out of these two prayer times.
- I felt a tremendous calm and peace afterward.
- I felt a sense of joy – not because of any “wonderful” thing that I had done…but because I had been given the privilege of talking to God about one of His children - and I knew that He had heard me. I also pictured Adam experiencing a sense of warmth and comfort as each person prayed for him. After all, this was about Adam - not about me!
- I felt incredibly close to God. I felt His presence. Many of the things for which I asked God to send to Adam…peace, courage, healing, calm, joy, hope…I felt being poured out on my own life, also.
This would not take the place of our daily prayers. We would still pray for others. But each day, we would lift one particular person to God for a quarter of an hour and truly pour out our hearts for him/her. We would ask God to cover this person with His immeasurable blessings…we would mention specific needs if we knew them…we would call on God to do amazing, incredible, supernatural things in this person’s life.
Think about it. In the course of a year, we could each pray specifically and extensively for 365 people! Just as Paul says in this passage to the Philippians…I don’t count myself an expert…or even anyone particularly special in God’s eyes. But I did feel an incredible sense of “connection” as one believer interceding on the behalf of another. I was running toward God…and I could almost see Him standing before me with His arms open widely. If we all did this, imagine what the exponential effect could be for God’s kingdom and His children!
I’ve had a taste of how rewarding this practice can be…and how easily a 15-minute-habit could be developed. And I’ve decided to go for it! I can’t wait to see what God does in and through me as I reach out to Him and talk to Him so specifically. Next Valentine’s Day, I hope to look back at and marvel at how He worked in the lives of so many – including Adam - and how I have grown in my relationship with Him as a result of these daily conversations.
Fifteen minutes is really not a lot of time. But God can accomplish incredible things when we give Him a quarter-hour of our attention and petitions! Are you ready to see for yourself what He can do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 10, 2013
April 10 ~ Exodus 20:18-20
When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.
And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”
“Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“Will you talk to So-and-so about this for me?” Every one of us has uttered a form of this question at one point or another. Whether we are asking a sibling to talk to a parent for us… or we ask someone to put in a good word for us with a potential employer… or we want a friend to find out if that special someone really likes us…we don’t even realize how often we are asking someone else to intercede on our behalf – in a myriad of circumstances. Some requests are innocuous, as in “I’ll ask my husband what he thinks would be the best way for you to handle that repair job”… or “I’ll ask Mary who she recommends for washing machine repair.” Others represent our inability – for whatever reason – to step up and face the person directly, as in “Will you find out if Jim is still mad at me?” or “Will you talk to Sue for me and find out what the plan is, so that I don’t have to talk to her?”
In much the same way, many of us are unable – or unwilling – to speak directly to God. Like the Israelites, we are scared to death of what God might say to us… and we most certainly do not want to face Him in person! So we ask others to pray for us… we base our limited faith in God on the word of friends, acquaintances, and the occasional televangelist. We fail to develop a strong, well-rounded relationship with God… and our excuses run the gamut. “I’m not really that religious… I don’t know the Bible like others do… I prefer to experience God in nature… God doesn’t want to hear from me… I don’t know how to pray and/or talk to God – I wouldn’t know what to say… I’m not good enough for God… God is mad at me”…all of these – and countless more – are the excuses we offer.
The truth is that intercessory prayers have their place, but nobody can communicate with God on your behalf like you can. We will never be worthy… good enough… or “religious/spiritual” enough! Still, God wants to have a relationship with us. God is NOT mad at us… He loves us. Experiencing God in nature and a variety of other ways has its place… but fellowship with other believers, prayer, Bible study and worship all are important, too.
The bottom line is that we do not want to have a “second-hand relationship” with God. We need to communicate with Him directly, humbly, yet boldly. We need to come before Him with anything and everything… we need to hear from God in person! You might not always like what He has to say to in return… but remember, God doesn’t like everything we say and do –yet He loves and welcomes us. All you have to do is start the dialog… simply say, “LORD, I’m here… I need you…and I'm listening...” and He will answer.
What are your excuses? Isn’t it time you stopped having a “second-hand relationship” with God and got to know Him for yourself? Isn’t it time you heard His word for your life directly from Him instead of a third party? Don’t you think it’s time to build your own relationship with Him and cut out the middle-man? What are you waiting for… what is your excuse this time?
©2013 Debbie Robus
When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.
And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”
“Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“Will you talk to So-and-so about this for me?” Every one of us has uttered a form of this question at one point or another. Whether we are asking a sibling to talk to a parent for us… or we ask someone to put in a good word for us with a potential employer… or we want a friend to find out if that special someone really likes us…we don’t even realize how often we are asking someone else to intercede on our behalf – in a myriad of circumstances. Some requests are innocuous, as in “I’ll ask my husband what he thinks would be the best way for you to handle that repair job”… or “I’ll ask Mary who she recommends for washing machine repair.” Others represent our inability – for whatever reason – to step up and face the person directly, as in “Will you find out if Jim is still mad at me?” or “Will you talk to Sue for me and find out what the plan is, so that I don’t have to talk to her?”
In much the same way, many of us are unable – or unwilling – to speak directly to God. Like the Israelites, we are scared to death of what God might say to us… and we most certainly do not want to face Him in person! So we ask others to pray for us… we base our limited faith in God on the word of friends, acquaintances, and the occasional televangelist. We fail to develop a strong, well-rounded relationship with God… and our excuses run the gamut. “I’m not really that religious… I don’t know the Bible like others do… I prefer to experience God in nature… God doesn’t want to hear from me… I don’t know how to pray and/or talk to God – I wouldn’t know what to say… I’m not good enough for God… God is mad at me”…all of these – and countless more – are the excuses we offer.
The truth is that intercessory prayers have their place, but nobody can communicate with God on your behalf like you can. We will never be worthy… good enough… or “religious/spiritual” enough! Still, God wants to have a relationship with us. God is NOT mad at us… He loves us. Experiencing God in nature and a variety of other ways has its place… but fellowship with other believers, prayer, Bible study and worship all are important, too.
The bottom line is that we do not want to have a “second-hand relationship” with God. We need to communicate with Him directly, humbly, yet boldly. We need to come before Him with anything and everything… we need to hear from God in person! You might not always like what He has to say to in return… but remember, God doesn’t like everything we say and do –yet He loves and welcomes us. All you have to do is start the dialog… simply say, “LORD, I’m here… I need you…and I'm listening...” and He will answer.
What are your excuses? Isn’t it time you stopped having a “second-hand relationship” with God and got to know Him for yourself? Isn’t it time you heard His word for your life directly from Him instead of a third party? Don’t you think it’s time to build your own relationship with Him and cut out the middle-man? What are you waiting for… what is your excuse this time?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 3, 2013
1 Timothy 2:1-4
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today I visited my grandmother at her Assisted Living Facility, and for the third time in two weeks, her clothing and laundry were in disarray. I have tried to remain calm and be nice, but I’ve firmly let those in charge know that I am not happy about this. I’ve asked myself, “How hard could it be to fold a person’s laundry and put it in the proper drawers? Can’t they hang up her house dresses and blouses…and match her socks in pairs in the sock drawer?” As I drove home, I thought about how a lot of the work in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is not very pleasant. But the Apostle Paul tells us that whatever we are doing, we should do it to the best of our ability. Doesn’t this include a job that involves handling other people’s laundry?
I turned off the highway toward our neighborhood, and I very clearly heard, “You must pray for them.” Now I have to tell you, I’ve prayed for individuals who work at my grandmother’s facility…and most certainly for many of the residents there. I have prayed for the nurse whose mother is in her last months of a battle with cancer and the administrator whose husband died unexpectedly… the family of the young housekeeper killed in a car wreck on her way home from work one evening… and the aide who was widowed last year and is helping to rear two young grandchildren. But I can’t say for certain that I have collectively prayed for all of the staff who care for my grandmother and her neighbors… that I have asked God to meet their needs in their personal lives and as they serve those in their care. Yet today, I distinctly heard, “You must pray for them.” And I will.
A few years ago, we moved into a house very near the hospital. Several times a week, we hear helicopters landing at the emergency room… transports for persons who are seriously ill and need expedient medical attention – or a higher-level care than is offered at our local facility. One night as the helicopter landed, I began to pray… for the person in need of medical attention… for the staff on the ground and the flight crew… for those at the other hospital who were waiting to receive this patient… and for the family and friends who might be frightened and stressed. I asked God to touch each person… to offer strength, comfort and care… to meet all needs of everyone involved, according to His will.
I don’t know why I decided this was important. But since then, I’ve made this a practice. One late December night I prayed as the helicopter landed, and I later learned the person being transported was my cousin, JD. A tree had fallen full force across his face, breaking nearly every bone there. I never know who might be in the helicopter, and it doesn’t matter… I try to always pray whenever I hear the choppers fly overhead. After all, we are called to pray for all people. And if praying for those involved in a medical emergency flight is important… wouldn’t it be just as important to pray for those who care for my grandmother each day?
Moreover, we don’t often think to pray for our municipal workers, our sheriff and his deputies, the judges in our courts, or our lawmakers and governmental leaders… but we should. Much of what happens in our everyday lives is directly affected by these people and their decisions and actions. We don’t take time to pray for our teachers and coaches… or even our pastor. But these folks help to mold lives and shape the future of our children and those in our churches and communities…and world at large. Don’t they deserve our prayers of intercession?
I’m still not happy with how my grandmother’s laundry is being handled… and we won’t always approve of how our leaders manage things… how we’re treated medically… or the decisions of our teachers and coaches. We won’t like every single person we pray for… but still, we must pray for them – all of them. I told my mother the other day that my prayer list is getting mighty long these days… and yours probably is, too. But that’s okay. Break it down throughout the day. Remember one person or group to God in this breath and someone else in the next. You don’t have to have a “sit-down” prayer session where you list each and every person… although this is okay, too. It really doesn’t matter HOW you pray for all people… but it does matter that you do so.
Prayer is powerful. Prayer draws us closer to God. Our prayers humble us and honor God in the process. When we pray, we operate in obedience. When we pray for others, we operate with integrity. Is prayer for all people an integral part of your life these days? Don’t you think it should be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today I visited my grandmother at her Assisted Living Facility, and for the third time in two weeks, her clothing and laundry were in disarray. I have tried to remain calm and be nice, but I’ve firmly let those in charge know that I am not happy about this. I’ve asked myself, “How hard could it be to fold a person’s laundry and put it in the proper drawers? Can’t they hang up her house dresses and blouses…and match her socks in pairs in the sock drawer?” As I drove home, I thought about how a lot of the work in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is not very pleasant. But the Apostle Paul tells us that whatever we are doing, we should do it to the best of our ability. Doesn’t this include a job that involves handling other people’s laundry?
I turned off the highway toward our neighborhood, and I very clearly heard, “You must pray for them.” Now I have to tell you, I’ve prayed for individuals who work at my grandmother’s facility…and most certainly for many of the residents there. I have prayed for the nurse whose mother is in her last months of a battle with cancer and the administrator whose husband died unexpectedly… the family of the young housekeeper killed in a car wreck on her way home from work one evening… and the aide who was widowed last year and is helping to rear two young grandchildren. But I can’t say for certain that I have collectively prayed for all of the staff who care for my grandmother and her neighbors… that I have asked God to meet their needs in their personal lives and as they serve those in their care. Yet today, I distinctly heard, “You must pray for them.” And I will.
A few years ago, we moved into a house very near the hospital. Several times a week, we hear helicopters landing at the emergency room… transports for persons who are seriously ill and need expedient medical attention – or a higher-level care than is offered at our local facility. One night as the helicopter landed, I began to pray… for the person in need of medical attention… for the staff on the ground and the flight crew… for those at the other hospital who were waiting to receive this patient… and for the family and friends who might be frightened and stressed. I asked God to touch each person… to offer strength, comfort and care… to meet all needs of everyone involved, according to His will.
I don’t know why I decided this was important. But since then, I’ve made this a practice. One late December night I prayed as the helicopter landed, and I later learned the person being transported was my cousin, JD. A tree had fallen full force across his face, breaking nearly every bone there. I never know who might be in the helicopter, and it doesn’t matter… I try to always pray whenever I hear the choppers fly overhead. After all, we are called to pray for all people. And if praying for those involved in a medical emergency flight is important… wouldn’t it be just as important to pray for those who care for my grandmother each day?
Moreover, we don’t often think to pray for our municipal workers, our sheriff and his deputies, the judges in our courts, or our lawmakers and governmental leaders… but we should. Much of what happens in our everyday lives is directly affected by these people and their decisions and actions. We don’t take time to pray for our teachers and coaches… or even our pastor. But these folks help to mold lives and shape the future of our children and those in our churches and communities…and world at large. Don’t they deserve our prayers of intercession?
I’m still not happy with how my grandmother’s laundry is being handled… and we won’t always approve of how our leaders manage things… how we’re treated medically… or the decisions of our teachers and coaches. We won’t like every single person we pray for… but still, we must pray for them – all of them. I told my mother the other day that my prayer list is getting mighty long these days… and yours probably is, too. But that’s okay. Break it down throughout the day. Remember one person or group to God in this breath and someone else in the next. You don’t have to have a “sit-down” prayer session where you list each and every person… although this is okay, too. It really doesn’t matter HOW you pray for all people… but it does matter that you do so.
Prayer is powerful. Prayer draws us closer to God. Our prayers humble us and honor God in the process. When we pray, we operate in obedience. When we pray for others, we operate with integrity. Is prayer for all people an integral part of your life these days? Don’t you think it should be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 21, 2012
James 5:16-18
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Suppose you went to the doctor because you had difficulty breathing, and he/she told you, “I want you to take this medication and also quit smoking.” You took the prescription to the pharmacy and had it filled but never took the pills - and you continued to smoke. Your ability to breath never improved – or even worsened. Would you say that the medication was effective? Would you consider yourself to be living according to the doctor’s recommendations? Could you honestly say you were surprised by the outcome?
Why, then, is it any different when the Great Physician tells us, via this passage in James and other scriptures, that there is power in the “medicine” of prayer and living right? When we do not pray… and pray with humility, sincerity, and confidence… how can we expect God to work? When we offer God “lip service prayers” – or wait until the last minute when we are totally desperate and out of options to call on Him – do we really believe He will deliver the answer we desire?
I have a friend who got mixed up in some pretty bad stuff at one point. He was truly headed for some serious trouble. But he will be the first to tell you that “I had a grandmother who never stopped praying for me.” Today, he is clean and sober, ministering to others – particularly young people – and enjoying a wonderfully blessed life. His grandmother is an inspiration to me… and a testament to the power of prayer.
I have experienced times in my own life when I fervently prayed for God to work in a particular situation… and He did. So when challenges come now, why would I do any differently? I know that prayer works! I’ve seen it over and again! I know that when I humbly approach God and offer Him the worries of my day and ask Him to handle them, He does. I also know that I must do my part. I must live in a manner that serves God and pleases Him. I must walk in faith and trust Him to meet my needs and those of the people for whom I intercede in prayer.
The next time someone tells you, “All we can do is pray,” tell them, “That may be all we need to do!” Never underestimate the power of a humble, genuine, faithful prayer. Never undervalue the effectiveness of a prayer warrior like my friend’s grandmother. Prayer changes things. Prayer is powerful! Make prayer a constant, vital component of your daily living… and watch God work in ways that astound you!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Suppose you went to the doctor because you had difficulty breathing, and he/she told you, “I want you to take this medication and also quit smoking.” You took the prescription to the pharmacy and had it filled but never took the pills - and you continued to smoke. Your ability to breath never improved – or even worsened. Would you say that the medication was effective? Would you consider yourself to be living according to the doctor’s recommendations? Could you honestly say you were surprised by the outcome?
Why, then, is it any different when the Great Physician tells us, via this passage in James and other scriptures, that there is power in the “medicine” of prayer and living right? When we do not pray… and pray with humility, sincerity, and confidence… how can we expect God to work? When we offer God “lip service prayers” – or wait until the last minute when we are totally desperate and out of options to call on Him – do we really believe He will deliver the answer we desire?
I have a friend who got mixed up in some pretty bad stuff at one point. He was truly headed for some serious trouble. But he will be the first to tell you that “I had a grandmother who never stopped praying for me.” Today, he is clean and sober, ministering to others – particularly young people – and enjoying a wonderfully blessed life. His grandmother is an inspiration to me… and a testament to the power of prayer.
I have experienced times in my own life when I fervently prayed for God to work in a particular situation… and He did. So when challenges come now, why would I do any differently? I know that prayer works! I’ve seen it over and again! I know that when I humbly approach God and offer Him the worries of my day and ask Him to handle them, He does. I also know that I must do my part. I must live in a manner that serves God and pleases Him. I must walk in faith and trust Him to meet my needs and those of the people for whom I intercede in prayer.
The next time someone tells you, “All we can do is pray,” tell them, “That may be all we need to do!” Never underestimate the power of a humble, genuine, faithful prayer. Never undervalue the effectiveness of a prayer warrior like my friend’s grandmother. Prayer changes things. Prayer is powerful! Make prayer a constant, vital component of your daily living… and watch God work in ways that astound you!
©2012 Debbie Robus
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