The Gift of Prayer & Praise
I've been in a lot of prayer meetings in my life. I can't even come close to a number. Lately, I have wondered if we still recognize the gift we have received in the ability to just "pray"--anytime---anywhere.
One of the greatest gifts we have been given with the salvation of our souls is the gift of prayer and praise. No longer must we go to a priest to offer sacrifices for our sins. We can enter the throne room of God--because we belong to Him. We can do this while driving down the road--we can do this while working in the garden--I've done both-- and we can do this in our churches and our homes. Not everyone in this world can put a checkmark beside all of these I've mentioned.
Prayer is a gift given to us that cost Christ everything. EVERYTHING. His own life was given so that we could be made whole... When I think about this tears just fall.
I remember when the movie "The Passion of The Christ" came out in Dothan, AL. We went to Circle West Cinemas to see it. The church we were attending (Harvest Church) was utilizing an adjacent storefront--serving coffee, etc., and counseling or praying with people who needed someone to talk to after it was over.
You could hear nothing during the movie except the effects of tears. Everyone left silently. Only sounds of much sniffling were heard. When we got out into the night air, Jeff asked me if I wanted to get some coffee next door in the Harvest building. I could hardly speak. I just shook my head and said I didn't think I could talk to anyone right now. We were both emotional.
That night will never be forgotten. I don't want to forget it. I don't want to forget what it cost Jesus to give us the ability to "pray" directly to the Father--through His gift of love and sacrifice...HIS life. The bloodshed that day soaked into the ground--but more than that--that very blood ran down through the ages of time and has been made available to you and me today. WE can pray. WE can praise without restraint right here in our home, in our church, in our car....and in many other places.
How can we treat this gift so nonchalantly? How can we go through a worship service at church without putting our whole heart and soul into it? If you are on the platform singing--leading us into the very throne room of God--why are you taking that so lightly? It is evident when a worship team has spent hours in prayer throughout the week to prepare. Practice? Sure...but prayer is even more vital than the practice. You wouldn't be up there singing at all if you didn't have the voice and ability for it.
Can I be so bold as to tell you something else? Not only does your heart need to be ready for worship and leading, so do your "outer garments." I am about to meddle. Please forgive.
We visited a church about a year or so ago, and it was hard to get into worship even with the worship leader, who was trying her best--because the clothes of one or two on the stage were completely distracting. I posed the question about it later--remembering how it was when I was in choir at our home church, and it was a very strict policy that was adhered to, or you would not be on the platform. It has become acceptable because we have reached the point in some churches that we are afraid to offend someone. Are you kidding me?
The Gospel is offensive to anyone who would rather do and have things their own way. Until God opens our hearts and minds to the truth and love found in the Word, we can get mighty offended.
The Gospel points to the things we have harbored in our hearts for so long that it has made a nasty-looking scab of indifference and we find ourselves having difficulties caring about others more than ourselves.
We have put "self" first and what we want for so long--that we would rather someone else be uncomfortable than have us alter any of the things we do, say, or dare-I-say, wear?
I have had some opportunities to be "offended." Sometimes, I took the high road -- shook it off, and made adjustments. There were times that I sat in the offense and remained hurt, sometimes even stewed-- but then conviction of the Holy Spirit reminded me of where I was, what I was there for, and all that Jesus had given ME. I stepped out of the garment of offense and back into the garment of praise. I needed my eyes opened. This wasn't about me. This was about others. This was about them seeing JESUS in me--and I wasn't a picture of Him at all at that moment.
Prayer and praise are gifts from God--and the enemy would love nothing more than to rob us of that. See, he used to lead the praise and worship team in Heaven....then he wanted the praise. So where do you think the enemy will attack first in our churches--given the chance? Exactly. Our prayers and praise. Whatever hindrance or distraction we get tangled up in causes him great delight...because the flow of praise to God just got stalled. The devil is delighted.
It's time we stop and recognize what the devil is trying to do and remember that we have been forgiven of our sins and have MUCH to give God praise and glory for! In this season of remembering the sacrifice Christ gave for our sins--let us remember we have been given this treasured gift of the ability to "pray and praise" anywhere --anytime.
I don't want to be distracted by what is around me--I want my focus completely embedded in the heavens. Can you imagine the audience looking over from heaven every time we praise? And praising through the MOST DIFFICULT times really brings the grandstands of heaven to their feet. Hebrews 12:1.
Oh girl what a word!
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