I am praying for the Church to learn again how to target the enemy in prayer. I just read another post on social media for a young child fighting brain cancer, and the family is begging online to strangers for prayer! I believe a few churches pray for people, but not in agreement like they used to do. It takes some efforts, but without it, we lose precious life ground!
I can think of reasons why they don't, but let’s talk about why they should! The Enemy is pushing the Church back by its lack of prayer. And God just thinks we don't really care!
The nit-picking attacks (that we see on social media) are one reason! The gangs of "only people like us" are another reason. If they go to church in need, and get ignored or treated unkindly, or don't see a path to submit what their need is to another, and they see the church as a gang or business recruitment center, they aren't sure they want to join as it does not come across as a Family. And *we are* the Family of God!
Now if some there are not real friendly and helpful, they may be among the needy. Or, if your needs are always "unspoken requests” you aren't giving the people much to work with! They can't log in to the real spirit of the need. Sometimes that is appropriate, but not always! Why can't we spend some time in small groups actually praying for each other?
Can you see areas where we are missing it? I have had prayers *literally* save my life, not because i was special, but because there were good people there - who really prayed! If the church is just a social place that does not focus on Who Jesus Is, it becomes a social club or a place of gossip - and prayers become ineffective, lame and scattered. We need to get back to our sharing lives. Don't expect it to be perfect, but people DO have needs!
We can fix that! And we can get better! And then one day you may need prayers like this mother I mentioned for her son and have to go to strangers just hoping they care, not knowing! There are a lot of things wrong these days.
If you don't sow good will and prayers, you may not reap them when you need them! I didn't say give money to pay for it, but God's House has needs too, but it's about connecting with God again. We can even learn good prayers with ministers teaching on it! But it is the *sincerity* that moves God to respond! You are significant to Him!
I am grateful for specialty ministries that can focus with good insight on certain things that will help us, but let's not lose the power of the real Church! We need the gatherings that God and His servants set up!
Yes, we may grow in numbers and have to deal with that by more new staff and outreaches, but when it starts to get impersonal and ineffective because we are just observers, we need to stop the overload on a few people and expand to more.
Let's get back to a *personal* JESUS! His Name *means Salvation*, something He has for our spirit, soul and body and a good kind of life, along with the promise of everlasting life!
THAT is *why* He came to us! Let’s get back to praying!!! And then testify of His answers. We are *hindered* by an indifferent Church Body! Let's enjoy sharing His responses and comfort those who are Family in need. It will make such a difference.
Pam Clark
