Prayer That Strengthens the Weak
This weekend, it seemed like there were a lot of intense prayer needs…people dealing with significant, heavy needs. I listened to one dealing with a custody hearing, sat with one going through a legal suit case against them, prayed with one dealing with depression, and physical health concerns, and these were introduced to me within 10 minutes!
I confess that hearing these, I am overwhelmed and my faith flutters whenI wonder what I can do. Then I pray, and even then, it’s hard to feel that it isn’t more than just words.
Well today I heard from both of those facing court cases, that the worse didn’t happen. God came through, in one situation, as they were approaching the judge, something happened that turned what could have been devastating into something that has preserved life and hope…and honestly, I am hopiong and praying for more than that!
The title of this post is not about the prayer that strengthened those I prayed for but strengthened the one who prayed for them: ME! Man sometimes I find myself saying, “Hey the least I can do is pray for you!” What a crock!
If the US Air Force accepted my invitation to execute military manuevers in my backyard to destroy a nasty nest of Army ants (you gotta love the imagery) they would bring firepower that was more magnificent and vastly superior to any defense or assault the vicious insects could mount!
Asking the USAF for help would not be the least I could, that would the most extravagant, maybe even audacious thing I could do! Consider when we pray, we are inviting the divine and infinite source of power in and beyond this universe to move and accomplish His perfect will in our life. That is so far above “the least I can do”! Praying for people is less about what I want to do to help, but the privilege I have of inviting God to bring His strength and power to the table.
Now I know that there are times where God doesn’t come through the way I wish He would…all the time! And, I am ashamed to say, my faith in Him is sometimes dictated by His performance for me. Thus when He doesn’t comply with my request, I tend to lose faith in Him and pray less. That is where weakness sets in.
But in hearing the news of these friends who needed God to move, it revived my faith in Him, gave me hope in spite of those times that other prayers weren’t answered my way, and somehow, resparked the conviction that though I am not sure what he is up to, He has no doubt about what He’s doing and why. God is good (all the time) and is working all things out (always) for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
The least I can do is fake it and mouth the request. The best I can do is faith it and sincerely trust in Him to do what only He can! Sincere prayer is where faith in God is strengthened, not solely by His fulfilling my request as I asked, but more, by the wonderful reality and promise of His Presence, His Purpose, and His Power that will ultimately brings His version of good into my life. Given the choice, I definitely want His version of good!
Lord, forgive me for weak prayer that is really more about weak trust in You. Help me to lift up my requests to you with a clearer focus on Your Imposing Nature and Divine resources than on my imposing circumstances and desperate conditions. I agree with Jesus: my spirit is willing but my flesh is so weak! and therefore submit myself to You for renewal.