….for where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. Matthew 8:20
As we are nearing another fresh year, I am reminded again of the preciousness of shared prayer. Back in March of this year I urged you to be a praying woman — something that many of you are already, but sometimes we slip, in the urgency of daily life. Have you a prayer partner? or even two?
Although it is hard sometimes to find that special person that you can talk to and pray with, it is worth the effort. Sometimes we don’t want to do that because it means we will be more exposed than we are now. That is true. But, often that is exactly what we need. When we know that someone is counting on us to pray with them — often on a weekly basis — it adds a layer of accountability that makes us take that responsibility for our spiritual life in a new way. That is true for the other person as well, so that two or three lives are enriched and enlivened by the power of God in prayer.
When you get together, plan time for a little chit-chat, and then get right to business. Often the prayer time is no more than an afterthought, and that defeats your purpose. You want to have Christ in your midst — you can’t see Him, but He has promised to be there. Do not fret the Holy Spirit by failing to spend the time that you have alloted wisely. You will be blessed by it, so seek that blessing early!
Bring a pad of paper and pen — take notes on what your friend is saying, and make sure you are praying for the right things. When you are both finished giving your personal prayer needs, add some of the pressing needs from your church to the list. Especially pray for your pastor and for the worship times on the Lord’s Day. Pray for his ability to stay strong in the Lord….we have fresh evidences today of those men who became careless, and have been caught in sin. Pray for your pastor, and the men of the church.
Above all, PRAY!! Are we in hard times? Oh, yes! Is this the first time the Church as seen hard times? Oh, no! We are being squeezed, and when that happens, we learn again to pray. May God help you in this precious and urgent task!