Praying For All The Saints

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=NIV

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of rayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." - Ephesians 6:18

Monday night I will celebrate the Christmas Holidays with a group of three other women who I call my prayer girls. For almost a year now we have met together every other Sunday to pray with and for one another. At first this time was like an appointment to keep - a commitment I made to friends. But that rapidly changed for all of us as we would walk away from the time together totally refreshed and filled with this amazing peace. Now it is a time I hunger for - often it is like the air I breathe.

The prayer room at church has become our sanctuary, our secret place, our Holy ground where we come before the throne of God. And God meets with us there - every time. He has heard our prayers and answered. We've seen answers to small prayers, answers to prayers we've prayed for each other, for our families, and for others. He answered and is answering prayers about deep desires of our hearts. Our Father has surprised us, awed us, comforted us and moved us. We've shared tears together in this room - sometimes those of sadness and frustration - but more often they are tears that we've learned to call "Holy Spirit" tears as we are moved so deeply by God's presence and his love for us.

There have been times when Satan has strongly opposed us. There was a particular time of discouragement when we all stubbornly determined that we would not give up - that we would not be defeated. That we would stubbornly approach the throne and not give up. One sweet girl always reminds us that the battle is fought on our knees - and we are reminded that victory is already won through Christ Jesus. God has honored our stand together.

This is not to say that each of us does not spend time daily alone in prayer - because we all also realize that we cannot walk by the faith of each other, but we each must seek to know God personally and individually. But there is this amazing beauty to be found in praying with and for one another. These women spur me on in my faith. On days that I struggle I remember that the girls are praying for me also, and I'm encouraged. Often during the week we continue to share our requests for one another.

We will not give up praying together - this little group and our time together has been one of the largest blessings of my life and builder of my faith. And so I encourage you also, friends, to pray with one another. Not only because our wise, wise God commands us to do so in his word, but because he showers down abundant blessings that have less to do with answers he brings and more to do with the privilege of approaching his throne.

My prayers go beyond our little group. Many of you have been in my prayers. Certainly I have prayed often for all who read this blog. Several days ago I shared a thought with some friends in our class - so I appologize to those who are reading it twice. However, it explains, I think, why prayer for one another is so important - why it goes far beyond the answers. Here is what I shared:

For whatever reason I have a lot of people in my world right now that have very heavy things happening to them - a lot of sickness, a lot of needs. So I've had the privilege the last several days to carry people before the throne of God - a lot of praying in my car as I've driven back and forth from work, while I worked out, or while I stood in my kitchen and cooked.

Last night when I went to bed, I just had this amazing peace and contentment - beyond what I usually have - and wondered exactly where that came from. And then I realized (or maybe God reminded me), that because I've been praying for others so much the past couple of days, I have spent a lot of time in his presence. The peace, the contentment - even joy in the midst of the sadness I have for my friends comes from just simply being in the presence of God as I pray for them.

I guess I share that just to share that taking time to pray for friends benefits me far beyond seeing God's answers and watching him move. It puts me in his presence - and at his right hand are eternal pleasures. Let us not, sweet friends - give up on sharing our needs, our wants, our desires with one another - least we lose the opportunity to see God move in the lives of each other as he answers prayers. Let us not give up on praying for one another, least we lose the joy that is found in the presence of our daddy God.

That, my precious friends, is why it is my privilege and pleasure to pray for you.

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." - Psalm 16:11

Blessings to you my friends!

Carol