Holistic Healing Prayer Being Offered on Sunday

This coming Sunday I will be offering the prayer to worshipers for the healing of body, mind, and spirit.  I know that many "healing" prayers just focus on the physical side.  We may be apt in our prayers during worship to include mainly those who are physically ill.  It is good that we do remember those who are in such condition.

However, I believe that we also at times need healing for dealing with stressful occurrences in our lives.  We might feel overwhelmed with a loss of job or a friendship.

Or it might be we are still dealing with unresolved issues in our relationship with God.  We might feel that we have drifted away from God and no longer feel the closeness we once had.  We might even feel estranged. We want to return and have a feeling of wholeness with our creator.

It is important to recognize that Jesus came to heal in a holistic way in his ministry.  He healed those who were physically ill, those who were possessed by demons, and he sought to make peace between us and God.  The apostles whom Jesus had were empowered to go out and they did "signs and wonders," which included healings.

This Sunday will be an opportunity to receive healing for yourself and also to reflect on how you might be an instrument of healing for someone else.

Church Staff also Need Your Prayers

Those who are on staff at churches certainly do need to be included in the members' prayers; and if possible, the prayers of others.  Those who are on staff do appreciate the help in difficult times to find the strength for ministry.

I came across this prayer of the apostle Paul who felt this need as he wrote to the Christians in Rome.
"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf, that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company."  Romans 15:30-32

I hope you would be praying for the staff of your church.  We surely need it with the challenges that are before us.  Every so many years I receive a postcard from the seminary I graduated from saying that the students there are praying for my class during the week.  It's been refreshing to have that knowledge.

When we get into a routine of praying for each other, we recognize the partnership that we share in doing God's work - regardless of our status at church.  It also says that none of us is beneath the need and encouragement that prayer can bring.  So, will you please keep up those prayers, including praying for those of us on staff!

Praying in Lent

The season of Lent is upon us.  It is a time for examination and for renewal as we look at our relationship with God.  How confident are you in the relationship you have?  Are you confident enough about your living that you could call on God to examine you inside and out?  This is what David did as we read in one of his psalms.

He wrote:  "Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.  Prove me O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind."   Psalm 26:1-2

Frankly, I don't know if I could be so positive about my life that I could call on God to examine me and thinking that all is okay between me and my Creator.

Maybe, though, the words of David invite us really to analyze our relationship with God and our living. Do you have the confidence to offer up such a prayer to God?  Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt so confident?

Even amid recognizing all of our faults before God, we still can come to God and seek renewal.  I believe this is what Lent is all about.  I hope Lent will be a meaningful time for you and that your prayer life will be enriched.

Prayer as a Mark of Discipleship

I have often thought about what would be the "marks" of discipleship.  Among those that come to mind is that a disciple of Jesus is characterized as one who prays.  I recall reading the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 12 and noticed that prayer is mentioned.  Paul wrote:  "Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer."  Romans 12:12  (you might want to read this chapter to find other marks of a disciple)

Prayer has been given to us as a privilege.  I believe that prayer is not to be used only in times of emergency, but is to be part and parcel of the ongoing life of the Christian.  It is giving thanks, lifting up praise, as well as bringing your concerns about yourself and others to God.  It's above all staying in communion with God.

I noticed that the word "persevere" is used.  What might prevent us from such endurance?  It might be that we simply grow weary in praying, or we believe that we cannot make a difference, or too many days, weeks, years have passed with no results.  Yes, Paul's encouragement is also to us, that we would not give up on this important part of our lives. 

May you persevere in your praying!

Praying for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer for Christianity Unity is being observed January 18-25.  The theme is "Has Christ Been Divided?"  The theme is taken from the apostle Paul's words to the Corinthian Christians as found in 1 Cor. 1:1-17. Here, the apostle recognizes already that the Christians have become splintered:  there are some who claim allegiance to Paul, some to Apollos, some to Cephas, and some who hold faithfully to Christ.

As we look about Christendom, we do recognize the many different groups (e.g. denominations) that make up the body of Christ.  At times, there has been fierce dissension.  At other times, there has been cooperation and great times of fellowship.

I believe we do have the responsibility to pray for one another in the body of Christ.  We all want to seek to help bring God's kingdom to this world.  We would want to provide most of all a good witness to an unbelieving world.

Our prayers can help us move toward this goal.  Will you take the time this week to pray for unity among all believers in Christ?

Praying for Saving All Nations

We have been given a huge task in being disciples of Jesus.  We are to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations and baptize in the name of the triune God.  I like how a similar desire for God's work was expressed centuries before Jesus' time.  It is in the prayer by the psalmist.....

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.  Ps. 67:1-2

Bringing God to all nations...it's a prayer that you and I can continue to pray today.  We realize certainly the missionary work that has been done over the last 100 years.  Think of how many places the gospel has now reached, how many nations now have had the saving news proclaimed to them. Yet, there are still those in need.

We think of America and how we have become very diverse, multicultural.  God's word needs to reach all kinds of folks.  There probably are many different expressions of worship that are needed and many different ways of communicating the message to people in this land.

Still, we need to pray even in our day that God would use you and me to reach those who are different from us....all so that God's way might be known upon the earth!

A New Year's Prayer

Eternal God,  thank you for bringing me into this new year.  You have helped me to cross the threshold into 2014.  While I don't know what this year will bring, I do know that my time is in your hands.  May I look to you for guidance every step of the way. May I be able to experience the joy that comes from you as well as knowing peace in troubled times.  Help me to see ways I can grow in my discipleship and be a manifestation of Jesus to those who will cross my path this year.  May I offer my whole life as a gift to you and discover how I can be a blessing to others.  Amen.