I'll Pray For You

          The pandemic changed so many things for most of us.  We still haven't gone back to church or out to eat at a restaurant.  We've spent less time with friends and we order all our groceries online.

          The one good change has been the fact that I have had more time to pray.  But I wish that I could say that my prayers were more effective than they used to be.  However, my prayer list has gotten much longer.

          It is no secret that people have serious problems that only the Lord can solve.  This past week I have been stunned by the new problems that I have learned about.

          A longtime friend has cancer and now his wife has decided that she wants a separation. What a disappointment and shock.

          A friend has a daughter with special needs who lives in a home for those with special needs.  This week the daughter was found on the floor where she apparently had been for three hours with a broken foot. She needed surgery.

          The daughter of a close friend is going through a difficult divorce and has been forced to move, with her children, home with her parents.  Her parents both have very serious physical problems themselves.

          A friend who is self employed had emergency surgery on his foot.  And while he recovers, they have no income.

           A young man with a special ministry has been diagnosed with kidney cancer – the same type that his mother died of a few years ago. 

          Another friend involved in ministry with several young children has cancer and has been going through various surgeries and difficult treatments. 

           A young lady has serious muscular disorders and has trouble scheduling appointments with specialists.       

           And I could add many more situations – friends who are ill, friends who are out of work, friends with family problems, friends with financial needs, friends with spiritual needs. 

          Serious needs are everywhere.  And what can I do?  Encouragement and faithful, fervent prayer are the only real solutions.

          Now I think most of us could learn more about faithfulness in prayer.  This week I recalled an old hymn penned in 1925 that I can remember singing years ago. Now I don't know much about Albert S. Reitz (1879-1966) and I know nothing about his prayer life.  Quite possibly you may never have heard it.  But in it, Reitz shares several practical issues about prayer.

 

1.     Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;

This is my heart-cry day unto day;

I long to know Thy will and Thy way;

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,

Constant abiding, this is my plea;

Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,

Power with men and power with Thee.

 

2.     Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer!

Here 'mid earth's sin and sorrow and care,

Men lost and dying, souls in despair;

O give me power, power in prayer!

Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,

Constant abiding, this is my plea;

Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,

Power with men and power with Thee.

 

3.     My weakened will, Lord, Thou canst renew;

My sinful nature Thou canst subdue;

Fill me just now with power anew;

Power to pray and power to do!

Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,

Constant abiding, this is my plea;

Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,

Power with men and power with Thee.

 

4.     Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;

Thou art my pattern day unto day;

Thou art my surety, now and for aye;

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,

Constant abiding, this is my plea;

Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,

Power with men and power with Thee.

          Prayer is as important to our spiritual life as is breathing to our human life.  May these words be a reminder to us of our need to spend time alone with the Lord.   May we have the discipline and desire to be prayer warriors for our own spiritual growth and for the many needs of those all around us.  

         And may I never be guilty of saying "I'll pray for you" and then not faithfully doing it.