how to pray

~Sarah~

Gary Weins has been sprurring us all to compassion for others. Having seen people healed through compassionite prayer, He's been calling us to this standard. I didn't really get it. It sounds great and all, but he was saying it wasn't just a human emotion and I was lost. In the prayer room, there are times for small group prayer. I almost always participate because I want to be obedient. The thing is, the music's so loud and by the time I get over to whoever wanted prayer, they've either already told everyone else what was wrong or I can't hear them. So, most of the time, I lay hands on them and agree, but I have no idea what the specific prayer request was. It's so hard to hear! On Thursday morning, I went over to pray for this woman and once again, I got there a little to late to hear what we were praying for. I strained to hear the others praying for her and gathered that her father had cancer. After the others prayed, she told us that He was not a Christian. They prayed some more and then left. I felt God whispering to me to pray for her. They had prayed for her father (turns out father in law), but I felt I was supposed to pray for her. So I asked her her name and her father's name, and I stayed with her praying for God's peace on her life and praying for the Lord to increase her spiritual authority. It was a strange prayer, and I didn't know if it made any sence, or if it was offensive even, but I prayed it. When we were done, she hugged me and thanked me over and over and asked when my baby was due. Then she asked if she could pray for the baby and prayed for an easy labor (I really like this woman!) She spoke little english and was struggling to find the english words for what she wanted to say, but her prayer was so honest and it really touched me. She asked what the baby's name would be and I told her. Then she asked me to show it to her in the Bible and I opened up her Bible to 2 Chron. 29. She sat down and read it after I went back to my seat.

It was kind of strange that this little prayer request impacted me so much. I thought about her and her father in law all day, praying for her throughout the day. God had actually given me compassion for her, and I was excited to see how it really did change how I prayed for her.

During worship at class that afternoon, Jesus and I were having a great time. I felt His spirit resting on me yet again and was singing to Him as if He were standing right in front of me. That heady romantic feeling. Feeling so close to Him and just delighting in Him. I started to think of this woman again and rebuked myself for not staying focused in worship. And then He spoke to my heart so sweetly and sincerely. He said "Look me in the eyes and ask me your request". I had been worshiping, looking into His eyes in adoration, and now He asked me to pray like that. So I asked Him for the salvation of the woman's father in law. And my heart melted. It was a breakthrough moment. Oh God! This is how You want me to pray?!? I was bawling and knew that I didn't ever want to pray the old way again. The old way being that I'm little me way down here shouting to Big God way up there. He wanted me to join prayer and worship and ask Him as a lover would ask her beloved in a moment of closeness. If Kevin and I are snuggling on the couch and I ask Him to do something for me, he may not always say yes, but I know with out a doubt that he hears and respects what I ask and his heart is towards me. And most of the time, he does say yes. I'm telling you, this changed everything. A huge paradigm shift.

Yesterday she came up to me and told me that her father in law accepted Jesus. I hugged her over and over again and rejoiced with her. I got teary eyed. Oh my goodness! The delight of my heart, He heard me! He listened! He answered! Not that it's about me at all. He drew me to a new place in prayer and met me there. It's all Him. I am so excited about this. I want to press in for his healing now, praising God and asking for yet more. It's funny that now that I'm an "intercessory missionary" I'm learning how to pray! I've believed that God answers prayer. He's answered many of my prayers. Well. Even when I haven't prayed well, or even out of the best motives. But I'm beginning to value prayer in this season. God is so gracious! He's facinating. I want to be forever facinated, not just by what He does, but by who He is.