Prayer
This morning I was reminded of a time when prayer became more real and on a relational level for others. A few years ago, while driving to work early at O dark hundred in the morning, I became aware of something, “Where’s Linda?” Linda is a gal I would see riding her bike every morning, she was but a speck of light at first with a headlamp on her forehead and flashing backlight. I had never met Linda, I just gave her that name.
For a couple of months, this Linda and I passed each other every workday. I had begun to pray for her. She not knowing, but it doesn’t matter, our paths intersected for a reason. So I’d pray. I prayed for her safety on the road, for any unknown needs, that while she rides “YOU, God are speaking to her.” One particular morning, I didn’t see her. For never meeting this gal, my heart sank. However, about a ½ mile up the road, there she was. I again began our morning routine, unknown to her!
Prayer, an amazing thing. Some make it more complex than it is, more lengthy than needed and by golly more King James than understood. Paul shared multiple times about our CALL to pray for one another. He bluntly states, “Brethren, pray for us.” (1 Thessalonians 5:25) Again, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) James shares, in a more intimate 
environment, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16 emphasis mine) Astonishingly, this was said of Job in the Old Testament, “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)
Prayer, simply coming to our God, and talking to Him. I would venture to say, most of our prayers may be “O God, help!” and that’s okay, “In Jesus name!” Whether it be a quick bow of the head for a loved one, on our knees on behalf of the nation, face down in a battle for deliverance or heartfelt while driving by a stranger, let us converse. I would add, conversing is two-sided, remember to take pause to allow God to respond … and listen.
Prayer.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Powerful & Effective
While driving to work this morning, I became aware of something, “Where’s Linda?” Linda is a gal I see riding her bike every morning, she is but a speck of light at first with a head lamp on her forehead and flashing back light. I have never met Linda. I gave her that name, frankly from a holiday family gathering. We were all loudly engaged in energetic conversation, when all of a sudden my Grandmother blurts out “Who’s’ Linda?” The room silenced, all eyes on Grandma, we ALL busted out laughing, there was NO mention of Linda in the conversation. So, now the saying goes, “Who’s Linda?”
For the past few month, this Linda and I pass each other every work day. I have begun to pray for her. She not knowing. But it doesn’t matter. Our paths intersect for a reason. So I pray. I pray for her safety on the road, for any unknown needs, that while she rides YOU, God are speaking to her. This particular morning, I didn’t see her. For never meeting this gal, my heart sank. However, about a ½ mile up the road, there she was. I again began our morning routine, unknown to her!
Prayer, an amazing thing. Some make it more complex than it is, more lengthy then needed and by golly more King James than understood. Paul shared multiple times about our CALL to pray for one another. For starters, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Phil. 2:3-4. He then bluntly states, “Brethren, pray for us.” – 1 Thess. 5:25. Again, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and 
quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2. James shares, in a more intimate environment, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 5:16 (emphasis mine) Astonishingly, this was said of Job in the Old Testament, “The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.” – Job 42:10.
Prayer, simply coming to our God, and talking to Him. Often we speak on behalf of another, I would venture to say, most of our conversations may be as quick as “O God, help!” One of my most favorite moments of the day, is when Mark, my husband takes me in his arms, placing his face alongside mine, feeling his breath in my ear, he tenderly prays over us, our children and our day.
Prayer, whether it be in the arms of a loved one, on our knees on behalf of the nation, face down in battle for deliverance or heart bowed while driving by a stranger, let us converse. May it be said of us as said of Job, “ The LORD…” (“The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.” – Job 42:10.)
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Heb. 10:24)
Sacred Spaces
Where is it that you call on God? Your prayer closet, the pew at church, the comfy chair next to the wood stove? Or perhaps, for you a walk on the beach, while brushing your tennis shoes in the sand. Could it be a quiet spot on the back porch as you sip coffee, taking in the morning sounds and sights.
When God moves and speaks, what is our response? Do we mark those moments on the time line of our life? As I studied this morning those great names of old … Abe, Isaac, Jacob and Moses, I found all had many things in common, but one in particular stood out to me … they built altars.
Genesis 12:7 “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”
Genesis 26:24-25 “That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” 25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.”
Genesis 35:10-15 “God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel. 11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” 13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. 14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.”
This one, is one of my favorites …
Exodus 17:10-16 “So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
An altar is a landmark of God’s presence. It declares a sacred space. Sacred, because the God of the universe showed up. Oh, we may no longer need to gather various rocks and pile them in our back yard, but we can make a spiritual marker. I made a very clear altar of the heart a couple of years ago. If I could literally see the altar it would be down in a cattle field, at the rivers edge, under a large old tree. It was there I cried out to the Lord, wanting … NEEDING His presence, and He never disappoints.
Like the Patriarchs of old, may we too … be altar builders. Recognizing and declaring THIS is where God met with me. Here is where I will remember. If we could see as God sees, I am confident we would see sacred spaces scattered across our past journeys. “Thank You Lord for being there, hearing us, being with us, You are faithful!”
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” ~ Heb. 10:24)
Inspired Fountain 