Friday, September 6, 2013

Prayer Meeting of the Blogosphere (6)


Welcome to the sixth, old-fashioned prayer meeting in this space. I almost didn't write it. I feel like I hardly know how to pray for myself in this moment, let alone anyone else. I'd ask if you know what I mean if I didn't already know you do.

I don't think any of us is a stranger to discouragement.

My dad preached Sunday, which was a bit unusual, but among us, he was the best man for the job. He and Mom had left their camper and campground for our cabin and campground, and he opened his Bible. We opened our ears, and just like that, it was church.

Dad preached out of Job 38 (KJV), in which God--through a series of questions about nature--illuminates His power and Job's powerlessness, His wisdom and Job's ignorance. Dad challenged us to imagine God's creating treasures of the snow (v. 22) and making paths for lightning (v. 25). He talked about how Job 38 has given him peace about not only his theological differences with fellow Christians (because none of us has all the answers) but also about God's control over and understanding of who he (Dad) is in all of his intricacies.

We talked about distraction, and I shared: I feel like it's Satan's greatest weapon against the church. It's certainly Satan's greatest weapon against me, as part of the church. I have a lot to say about this and may expound, later, but for now I'll offer a prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come asking You to help me use my time and energy wisely. Help me to remember: my time and energy are gifts from You and important resources for Your Kingdom. Make me a force of and through priority. Help me not to become unnecessarily distracted by the pontificating of others, social media, unimportant tasks, perceived wrongs against me, or a failure to release concerns into Your capable hands. I ask the same on behalf of my brothers and sisters reading here. Thank You for going with all those for whom I pray regularly. Help me to trust You better and more. In Your Son's name, amen.


Now it's your turn! Would you like to participate in an old-fashioned prayer meeting of the blogosphere? Here are some ideas:

  • You can pray about my prayer request.
  • You can share a prayer request by means of a comment.
  • You can share a prayer request on your personal blog and direct me to your post by means of a comment.
  • You can pray about a participant's prayer request.
  • You can write a prayer about my, your, or someone else's prayer request (in comments hither or yon, on your blog, etc.). If your prayer is somewhere other than this place, please direct me as you can and will.
  • You can join in praying my or someone else's prayer.
  • You can share an update regarding a prayer request you've made here, in the past. 

Thank you again for being here, and I hope to see you next week, if not before.

6 comments:

  1. Brandee, these are great ideas and I loved how your dad opened his Bible and began to preach. I remember when preaching was just talking, listening and discussing our thoughts. That was a long time ago, but it is reviving itself. Be blessed my friend, and thank you, for sharing ways to get back to having an old-fashioned prayer meeting.

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    1. Thank you, Cynthia. Always so glad to see you, here.

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  2. ooooh distraction. that IS something horrible he uses. so true. been thinking about you a lot the last couple of days. hope all is well sweet friend. prayers...just continued wisdom and strength with B and I and our jobs. the girls with school. the normal stuff;)love you!

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    1. Yes, Friend. Continuing to pray. Call me when you get a chance: the 598...the 240 is broken and has to be sent away for repair. love you

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  3. I get so distracted, too. We touched on that a little today in Sunday school - how the idols in America aren't statues like other places but distraction and wanting to be comfortable.
    Praying for you as one who knows what it's like to have days (weeks, months) when the last thing I want to do is pray or write or any of it.

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