PRAYING FOR EMERGENCIES I

I intend to post two watching in prayer blogs in a row, rather than alternating next week with my THINKING IN THE SPIRIT blog. So this is PRAYING FOR EMERGENCIES I.

This week I received an Amber Alert on my phone. This is a new function of my phone. In fact, after I received it I got a message asking if I wanted to receive such messages in the future. I automatically keyed in "yes." But, of course part of me wanted to say, "No!" I don't ever want there to be kidnapped children. I can rejoice that that day will come. But until that day I want to know about such terrors so I can pray as they unfold.

Of course an Amber Alert or a screaming siren, even a honking horn can be a distraction. We are tempted to try to find out what is happening. That of course is natural. But let me suggest that we start praying before we do anything else.

Romans 12:12 is one of those Scriptures that God has often used to speak to me. The King James Version concludes that verse with the words, "continuing instant in prayer." William Carrie said he was able to bring people on the mission field to Christ because God helped him be "instant in prayer." Our English word, "instant" comes to us through Middle English and French from the Latin, "in stare," which meant to stand at the ready."

The secret to being instant in prayer is to be immersed in prayer. If I am already praying when I hear the alarm, I will automatically pray for the urgency.

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

http://daveswatch.com/

A couple of years ago I read a book by Gary Neal Hansen called "Praying With Giants". One of the prayers that was new to me was the so-called "Jesus prayer". The basic form is something like, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Several instances in the Gospels have one or another form of a prayer like this.

I've come to use this prayer in just the types of situations that you're talking about. I don't always know exactly what's needed or have enough information to pray in any detail, but I know that I can always appeal to a God who longs to show mercy. Praying like this is also a great reminder to me that it's not all about the way that I pray - it's more about the God to whom I pray. A simple prayer like this curbs my natural tendency to "over-pray" - going into lots of details that God already knows, multiplying words in exactly the way Jesus said not to.

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Comments

Vicki Normoyle July 13, 2016 6:53

David, thanks for praying about the contrast between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. I would like to hear what you and others discern.
Reimagine Curator July 11, 2016 18:56

David,

Are you aware of the Christian Emergency Network?

http://www.christianemergencynetwork.org/

Phil

Pray.Network
David Young July 11, 2016 18:19

Thank you, Vicky and Andrew. To be honest, I had not thought about over praying in any context. I need to pray about the contrast between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Jesus of course told us not to be like those who think they will be heard by their many words.
Vicki Normoyle July 10, 2016 7:29

Thank you, David and Andrew for sharing what God is teaching. Andrew, you made reference to "over-praying" and using many words. I wonder if at times our prayer are more like the prophets of Baal and less like the prophet Elijah.
David Young July 9, 2016 22:57

Thank you, Andrew. Your comments are insightful as always. I suspect they may fit what I intend to write next week to follow up on this one.
Andrew R. Wheeler July 9, 2016 20:18

A couple of years ago I read a book by Gary Neal Hansen called "Praying With Giants". One of the prayers that was new to me was the so-called "Jesus prayer". The basic form is something like, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Several instances in the Gospels have one or another form of a prayer like this.

I've come to use this prayer in just the types of situations that you're talking about. I don't always know exactly what's needed or have enough information to pray in any detail, but I know that I can always appeal to a God who longs to show mercy. Praying like this is also a great reminder to me that it's not all about the way that I pray - it's more about the God to whom I pray. A simple prayer like this curbs my natural tendency to "over-pray" - going into lots of details that God already knows, multiplying words in exactly the way Jesus said not to.

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