Dear Friends,
In a few minutes, I will be heading to meet some
of my friends at the church. For the past few months, I have been homebound and
unable to drive because of my recent hip surgery. So, it’s been a while since I
have been able to be with these dear friends. Since I am now able to drive, I
will be joining them again at our church.
Who are these best friends? They are my
partners in prayer.
Yes, some of the greatest friends I have,
I’ve made on bended knee. There are few things that will forge a friendship
faster than praying with another brother or sister.
I am so blessed to meet for prayer with this
group of brothers and sisters every Thursday morning, and for the next
hour spending time with them fellowshipping and praying
together.
Those of us who will shortly be together know
that we will be doing one of the most important works of the church. They all
understand the church moves forward fastest on bended knee, and that kingdom
business is best accomplished when it’s done through prayer.
Just as we would always close our team's
football practice with a team huddle, we too close our time together with a
“holy” huddle.
We conclude our prayer time with a ‘holy
hug.’ We gather together, forming the tightest circle possible, and with body
against body and arms embracing one another, we close out our time with a final
exhortation and a hearty Amen. What a feeling of unity we share as that final
amen is sounded.
During these times of prayer, friendships are
being forged that will last forever.
I believe the greatest barometer of a
church’s health and effectiveness will be determined by the number of its
people who are engaged in prayer.
Charles Spurgeon said, “The condition of the
church may be very accurately gauged by its prayer meetings. The prayer meeting
is a ‘grace-o-meter,’ and from it we may judge the amount of divine working
(being done) among a people. If God is in the church, then the church must
pray. And if He is not there, one of the first tokens of His absence will be a
slothfulness in prayer... You can tell how popular the church is by who comes
on Sunday mornings. But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the
prayer meetings.”
Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, Jim
Cymbala, p. 29.
It was S.D. Gordon, who said, “You can
do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until
you have prayed.”
If you would like to forge lasting
friendships and see a spirit-filled and thriving church, then join a prayer
group.
If you would like to witness a church on
fire, then fall on your knees.
If you would like to see something exciting
happen this Sunday, then before passing through the church doors, join the
ranks of the prayer warriors and silently offer up the following silent prayer.
“0 Lord, please lead me to someone whom I might be able to pray with
today.” And then, whether before or after the service, be on the lookout
for that person or persons God wants you to for. As you engage them in
conversation, listen carefully for some spoken need they might express, and
then, before you conclude your time together, ask them if you could pray for
them. People will seldom refuse your offer, and they will never forget your
prayer.
If every member came to church with this goal
in mind, there would be a spiritual tsunami of encouragement sweeping through
your congregation. People would no longer hurry out the doors to the parking
lot following the close of worship. Instead, the church would be filled with
the sweet fragrance of prayer wafting through the congregation.
There is nothing like praying with and for
one another to build and foster community, so why not come to church prepared
to offer one of the greatest gifts you could ever give someone, the holy gift
of prayer?
I close with the words of Martin Luther, who
said, "The need for prayer has never been greater than it is at this time,
and it will be still greater from now on until the end of time."
Have a great day, and don't forget that you
and I grow best on bended knee.
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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