Day One Hundred & Eighteen.
I got shot down a lot today. Lots of people were not interested in having me pray for them. So, I thought I'd take this day to talk through some of the things I have learned so far on this journey. I went into this year feeling ill-equipped to pray for people and really bumbling through my encounters. I knew I had the training (check out schoolofkingdomministry.com) but the every day practical application is a whole different story. I mean, how often do you really pray in person for people that you know? Much less for people that you don't know. It's hard. It's awkward. It's scary. & I sucked at it. I still kind of suck at it but God has been gracious to actually show up when I ask Him to so, He makes me look good.
1. I don't have the required vocabulary to pray for just anyone.
If you are anything like me, you grew up praying over meals, at bedtime, over the offering, and SOMETIMES praying over your friends. I can say "bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and our bodies to your service" in my sleep 5 times fast and never miss a beat. (which is a little crazy considering my body was rarely available for his service) I know all of the words to bedtime prayers, and all of the words to the Lord's prayer. But, when I started 118 days ago praying for complete strangers, I got tongue tied over the easiest prayer requests.
I learned that the best language to use is found in the bible. (shocker right?) Proverbs and Psalms and Isaiah are just full of things that everyone needs. Not to mention Paul's letters or... you know... Jesus's actual prayers in the gospels. Turns out, he knew what he was doing most of the time. So, I just do what he did. After about a week I became more comfortable and after a month of searching the bible I started to pray using what I was filling my heart and mind with.
2. Something always happens, even if I don't know it.
Maybe this is just a trust issue but, I like to SEE when someone is feeling the Holy Spirit when I pray. I want to know what the results were, do you feel better? Is the pain gone? Did Jesus lighten your burden? But, I have had several encounters that felt like nothing happened and then I learn later that those were powerful for the people that I was praying for. So, I'm learning that I can't predict what will happen but I trust that God is doing something, even if I don't see it.
3. Prepping my heart before praying for someone makes a huge difference in me.
If I trust that God is going to show up when I pray then I have to assume He is always making a huge difference for people. But, I seem to really notice a change in the atmosphere if I have prayed or worshiped before I go to find my stranger. I am less nervous, I have some idea of what I will pray about before I even meet the person, I feel prepared and confident.
Some days that just isn't how my day goes. Sometimes, it's 10pm and I'm walking through the gas station when I realize I haven't prayed for anyone that day. But, on the days when I'm able to be intentional about it and prep my heart, even if I just take a few moments to worship in my car before going into a store. Then,I am more likely to see what God is doing and my faith is strengthened by those encounters.
4. My personal walk with God is held accountable when I am seeking him for others.
Y'all do not walk into this praying for 1 stranger a day until you are ready to get your life right with Jesus. This is not a game. When the Creator of the Universe starts showing up and changing lives because of three sentences that you said, it changes the way you look at your personal prayer time. I no longer read the bible out of duty. "It is a double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4) It just brings a whole new weight to personal prayer time.
5. Satan isn't a passivist.
I have become hyper aware of Satan's desire to steal, kill, and destroy. Hearing the needs of everyone that I have prayed for has made me realize that this isn't just a passive little enemy. He is out for blood, and walking into this journey means agreeing to actively fight against that. Not just on the days when Satan comes after me personally but, every day. My entire walk with Christ has occurred inside the United States where I am carefully surrounded by excuses and explanations as to why something bad happens to good people. And we are RARELY blaming our true enemy. Hebrews 6:12 says " For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
Know your enemy.
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