Have you ever been guilty of saying “I will pray about something” and then forget or get busy? Years ago, I found myself in that place. At the time I was pastoring a church and people called all the time. Sometimes I was engrossed in a project or family and would say “I will pray about it”. Then get busy and forget. I felt guilty. I was upset with me.

Okay, times have changed and I developed a better, less urgent response to “missing” something, but I also pray. If someone asks me to pray, I pray then. (And I might pray later as well.) If I write “praying” on a Facebook post, it is then and not when I remember. I will interrupt a conversation to pray for healing or lay hands on someone. (To those who might think I am rude, that is okay. I would rather see someone healed, whole and upset with me than not healed.) If you have been dealing with a long term illness I will most likely pray for you every time I see you.

Why? Because I desire His kingdom to come and His will to be done. There is NO sickness in heaven. Therefore there ought be none here.

Last night I had a dream and in it a friend and I were dialoguing about people. We were discussing the brokenness and the pain folks went through. All of a sudden there was a rush of wind and we found ourselves crying out on behalf of people we knew as well as those we did not know. Some of it sounded like conversation (Loud conversation!) and some of it the pulling of heaven into earth. We released heaven over their lives. Restoration of families and friends. Healing and wholeness.

The Lord has had me feeling as though we “need” to pray. That we are birthing something that needs to come forth. It is one of those “all hands on decks” times I believe.

Tonight our fellowship will gather to pray. I am excited. For too long I have felt it is as if prayer took a backseat to the flash and glamor of more public events and gatherings.

As a child I prayed every night for my family. I prayed the Lord’s prayer.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

And I looked over at God.

The first verse tells us that it is a gathering of sorts. Our Father.

I do not know about you but I have not seen the fulfillment of John 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” What are we wishing? Are we expressing it? Asking for it? 1 Thess. 5:9 says to “pray without ceasing”. (And some of deemed themselves the church police deciding what others can have or not have. Creflo Dollar and Dave Ramsey. Simply said, I believe it is their deal and not ours to deal with.)

Finally, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim. 2:1-4