Prayer. It's something that has been in the forefront of my mind lately. A topic that I have been wrestling with. A conviction that has cut deep into my heart and soul. Something that has literally made me stop and reassess all that I have ever believed, said, and done in regards to prayer.
Well...I heard God loud and clear this morning, (in my deep, loud manly voice) "Kristen! Good Morning! Stop being lazy! Get out of bed on your first day off for Spring Break! Even though you are supposed to be doing a million other things right now, I want you to write a blog on prayer."
Ok. No. I didn't hear his loud, booming voice ascending from heaven accompanied with harp music and bright lights...but something, yes something, in my heart told me to write this blog today.
Everywhere I go and everywhere I turn it seems like everyone around me is in desperate need of prayer. My friends' marriages are falling apart. People that I love dearly have been diagnosed with cancer. Loved ones are struggling with financial problems. Family members that just can't seem break the chains of addiction. All around me people are broken. Broken and in desperate need of restoration. Broken and in need of hope.
As I sat the other morning praying to God about my own needs and wants, a gut-wrenching thought came to my mind. You lied Kristen. You gave the simple, overused, and very empty Christian statement to them. You told them you would, but you haven't. They were counting on you. They were depending on you. They put their hope in that statement you gave. They needed you to pray.
I don't want to judge others, so I am putting myself up on the stand. You see, time and time again, I have given someone a false sense of hope. I have lied to them in some ways. I have sat with them and held their hand. I have emailed them or text them this promising statement. I have posted it on Facebook for the whole world to see.
"My thoughts and prayers are with you."
"Stay strong! I will be praying for you."
"Praying for you in this time of need."
Broken promise after broken promise. Are our thoughts really with that person as much as they should be? Or did we scroll through Facebook, think for 15 seconds about how sad it was, and move on to decide what we should make for dinner that night? Did we pray for them like we said we would? Or did we give them a quick 5 second prayer, "God be with them right now" while quickly moving on to our next plan for the day?
"My thoughts and prayers are with you." In my opinion, it is the most overused Christian statement. We are so quick, I am so quick to respond that way. It's our way of trying to make it all better. When what would really make it all better is to actually follow through.
As I prayed the other morning, I cried. I looked through my prayer journal and what prayers were ALWAYS listed first? Sadly, my own. Yes, I prayed for people (most of the time like I said I would), but they were at the end of the list. #10 out of the first 9 about myself. I prayed for what I needed. What I wanted. And oh by the way God, could you help them in their time of need.
I felt convicted. I should be pleading for this person. I should be on my hands and knees, begging for their life, for their marriage, for their family, for their hope. I am really good at praying fervently for the things I need, but when was the last time I prayed fervently for someone else's needs?
When I told people I would pray for them, I am sure that I didn't mean one quick prayer on my way to work, sipping my Starbucks, putting on lipstick, with the radio on and all the while thinking about the busy day ahead of me. But sadly, I do it all of the time. A "passing" prayer is what I like to call it. But I didn't give them the time they deserved.
I guarantee you that if I was the one with cancer, I would pray without ceasing. If it was my marriage in shambles, I would pray without ceasing. If it were my addictions I couldn't break the chains of, I would pray without ceasing. If it were my debt that was piling up around me, I would pray without ceasing.
So, my confession to you today is that I am selfish. Not only am I selfish in life, but I am also selfish in my prayers.
There is absolutely, positively NOTHING wrong with praying for yourself. But praying for new carpet just doesn't seem as important as praying for someone else's life.
When I say that I will pray for you. I want to mean it. I want to stop casually saying, "My thoughts and prayers are with you." when in all honesty they aren't. I want to pray for others like I would pray for myself.
That morning, the morning I was blindsided with this conviction, I looked down at the bracelet I wear everyday that was supposed to remind me that I Am Second. I try as best as I can to apply that everyday, but I wasn't applying it in my prayer life.
From now on, I Am Second. If I tell you that I am praying for you, I mean it! It will no longer be an empty Christian statement.
I challenge you to do the same. I know I probably am not the only one who has ever made an empty promise about prayer.
People need our prayers more than they ever have before. They are counting on us. They are depending on us to have power in numbers.
I hope the next time you use that statement it won't be an empty promise, but one that is fulfilled and carried into completion. Don't just pray for them one time. Pray for them every single day until they find the answer. Pray for them every single day until they are healed. Pray for them every single day until their marriage is renewed. Pray for them every single day until they find a job. Pray for them every single day until they are able to forgive. Pray for them every single day until they can break the chains of addiction. Pray for them every single day until they are able to adopt that child. Pray for whatever they desperately need. Pray. Pray without ceasing.
I believe in the power of prayer. I have witnessed first-hand what prayers and God's provision can do. Prayer can and will make a difference. And if you aren't praying for them, who will?
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