Now I've Gotta Get Really Real!
In the church I grew up in, there was a way to ask for prayer without giving any details in public. Have you heard of it? We called it an "unspoken request".
I'd always thought that sounded like a cop-out. It seemed to me that the same people raised their hand every week, and I was sure they must never pray with words because their prayers were "unspoken"! At least, that's the way I understood it.
It also seemed to me that it was just a way to get attention. But that doesn't make sense, because if they had wanted the attention, wouldn't they have taken the floor and filled our ears with words for hours on end? I dreaded that - the pews were solid hardwood!
I guess that as a child, I was sure everyone's motives were the same as mine! uh-hem! (that's a clearing the throat sound that my family uses to mean,"too true").
Another guess was that something extremely horrible had happened in their lives, or they were concerned about some catastrophe far away... I'm sorry, but I just couldn't understand how they could continue week by week, not-speaking their prayers!
Well, now it's my turn.
We're having some trouble in our family, and I'm raising my hand. I can't speak it, because to do so might put a block in front of God's healing. Now I understand a little better how important an "unspoken" prayer request is. The more talk, the more damage might occur, and what we long for is healing!
If you are a pray-er, would you pray for us?
If you aren't, maybe you could start.
My sister and I used to sing a little duet when we were little. Grandma M. taught it to us. It went like this, "not my mother, not my father, but it's me, O Lord - standin' in the need of prayer..."
I'm standing here now, and I need prayer for my family. If something doesn't change, things could get really ugly. We need God to put His hand on this and stop it. And if I must stand here week after week with my hand raised, I'll do it.
Thank-you for your help.
I'd always thought that sounded like a cop-out. It seemed to me that the same people raised their hand every week, and I was sure they must never pray with words because their prayers were "unspoken"! At least, that's the way I understood it.
It also seemed to me that it was just a way to get attention. But that doesn't make sense, because if they had wanted the attention, wouldn't they have taken the floor and filled our ears with words for hours on end? I dreaded that - the pews were solid hardwood!
I guess that as a child, I was sure everyone's motives were the same as mine! uh-hem! (that's a clearing the throat sound that my family uses to mean,"too true").
Another guess was that something extremely horrible had happened in their lives, or they were concerned about some catastrophe far away... I'm sorry, but I just couldn't understand how they could continue week by week, not-speaking their prayers!
Well, now it's my turn.
We're having some trouble in our family, and I'm raising my hand. I can't speak it, because to do so might put a block in front of God's healing. Now I understand a little better how important an "unspoken" prayer request is. The more talk, the more damage might occur, and what we long for is healing!
If you are a pray-er, would you pray for us?
If you aren't, maybe you could start.
My sister and I used to sing a little duet when we were little. Grandma M. taught it to us. It went like this, "not my mother, not my father, but it's me, O Lord - standin' in the need of prayer..."
I'm standing here now, and I need prayer for my family. If something doesn't change, things could get really ugly. We need God to put His hand on this and stop it. And if I must stand here week after week with my hand raised, I'll do it.
Thank-you for your help.
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