I know that it is politically incorrect to talk about prayer
on social media for some. My hope is to rattle a few to rethink their view of
life in this blog. There have been studies done under clinical conditions that
attempt to prove if prayer has any impact on circumstances. I have spent most
of my life working with youth and adults that are in very difficult
circumstances. I know that it can be rather easy to say ‘I’ll pray for you’ and
then walk away.
I want to challenge everyone to see the obvious need and
benefit of being better at communicating with those that are in your circle and
then also for those that are on the fringe of your circle of friends. I have
observed that God’s answers to my prayers typically aren’t what I expect but
have more to do with me changing my attitude and willingness to step up and do
something. I have heard many say that it is so important to put ‘feet’ to your
prayers. We don’t live in a vacuum so when someone calls me and says that their
son has been running away on and off, I don’t say hey I’ll pray for him and oh
by the way have a great day. Instead, I ask if it is ok to get together soon
and listen to each other.
Yesterday I was able to see answers to some rather amazing
prayer requests. I have a friend who is being evicted from their home. I didn’t
have money to help but did something as simple as talk to the property manager
and get them to flex a little more and then the pressure of moving changed and
the fear of being sued was gone. I had another circumstance that was just as
difficult with a good friend and their mom. The likelihood of a parent being
able to really listen to their adult child is very tough. Yet, after listening
and talking for a couple of house our goal of hearing and being more
transparent was beginning to happen.
Today I had texts from a couple of moms about teens that
were running away or disappearing for a day or two and then coming back. I
don’t know what is going to happen. I know that I have asked a few close
friends to pray and I have also reached back to the teens that are hurt and
confused to help get them a little perspective on life, such as running away
without a job, support structure or money in your pocket isn’t smart. I see
that as I pray and ask for prayer it forces me to be more honest about myself.
Yeah, I know that at times I drove my kids, now adults, a little crazy because
of choices I made that impacted them.
One of the more difficult lessons in life is understanding
that everyone experiences brokenness in relationships all of the time. One of
the key signs of a healthy person is someone that is willing to acknowledge
their brokenness and then take steps not to fix those around them but look in
the mirror. I don’t like looking in the mirror because it reminds me that I
have gray hair, some wrinkles and that I could be in better shape. I don’t need
someone reminding of these things, yet, I do need someone to affirm me, love
me, choose to be around me and ultimately encourage me.
So yes I think you should considering praying, even if you
don’t necessarily know God intimately and discover what can happen. It is too
easy to be an island and a lone ranger type that ends up being alone in their
brokenness. My hope is to see God shed lots of light on the great fortunate of
communicating better and allowing others to see you on the inside where life
isn’t so great. So I know that my prayers are more likely change me then those
whom I’m praying for! Pray!
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