True Christian friends are like streetlights along the road, They don’t make the distance any shorter, but they definitely make the road easier to navigate when they are  traveling the path with you.

My husband has been saying around our home lately that there is something that needs to be said about people that make no time for others in hard times. The all about me attitude is everywhere and it is in the body of Christ today. There  is presence missing with prayers. We need to start praying about this ! He told me that he has on his heart something heavy. Darla, can you start thinking about Prayer versus Presence. ~PRAY about this ~ Can you write about it?

Doesn’t it all come down to , Less of me and more of you God ? I do not have adequate words or language to describe how such words effect me. In the South, the Bible belt, we say, “We are praying for you,” like “Hello” or “How are you ?” Do we really do what we say we are going to do? Are we somehow using one of the most powerful gifts the Lord has given us in vain? Does it somehow make us sound more spiritual at least in our own eyes and ears when we say this?

Whenever I am aware that a friend is praying for me, I am deeply touched. I am deeply moved. I am deeply thankful. How does it make you feel? I believe the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and we know when someone is being sincere. One of the characteristic’s of the Holy Spirit is He reveals ALL Truths.

If or when I tell someone “I’m praying for you,” this is  a huge thing for me. For me, I have a prayer journal. It works for me. It might not work for you but I like to write down list and write out my prayers to the Lord. It is something that I can go back and reflect on . It is something that I can go back and read and see all the prayers answered and all the confirmations given. It is where I can go back and read through the years and see how much the Lord has stretched me. My prayers these days are more about others than myself. The Lord had to do a lot of stretching. He continues to G-r-o-w-   and  S-t-r-e-t-c-h-   each one of us.

I humbly have been labeled a “Prayer Warrior.”  But, I do not pray for everyone I know. I am usually one that prays in my private ,”PRAYER CLOSET.” The ones that truly know my heart know I am uncomfortable praying out loud. I have started doing it but it is so outside my box. It is so intimate for me.  My prayer time is mostly fellowship with my God. Intercession happens when the Lord lays someone on my heart strongly or if a friend confides in me and ask me to pray for them. When I intercede for someone without being asked to, it means that I am deeply concerned for them.

The Lord has laid on my husbands heart that we as “Christians” need to put actions to those prayers. Presence is needed. We need to attach the hands and feet of Jesus to those prayers. There are times that a brother or sister in Christ needs presence. Jesus never passingly said, “I ‘m praying for you” and left it at that. Jesus was our ultimate example . He ALWAYS first saw a need and met it. He ALWAYS saw a hurt or physically pain and healed it and then he ministered to them .

One beautiful example that can bring this point home is this past Sunday our campus Pastor, Keith Linsey at Church of the Highlands at Greystone was talking to my husband Don. Don was sharing my health concerns with what is happening with our Pastor. Pastor Keith said, “I will be praying. Tell Darla, I will be praying for her. ” Then Don said he turned right around and said, ” Let’s pray for her right now.” This touched my husbands heart in such a meaningful way. I think it is a lesson for us all that at times we need to put action, physically action to our prayers. How many hearts can we touch with this loving act of kindness?

Friends, when someone is having health issues or concerns or depression or fiery darts thrown their way, please understand many will not ask for prayers or help. I would be half dead before I literally picked up the phone and asked for help. There are times I desperately would love it but I don’t want to be a bother or burden. I hate the saying, “Call me if you need something.” It has broke my spirit when I have seen how ones that say they love others make no time for them when they are in a storm. I have witnessed it recently even when one was on their deathbed. Some, still could not make time. This speaks volumes. One of the things my husband says over and over is, ” WATCH what people do and not what they SAY. It will tell you all you need to know. It will tell you their true character.”

In this day and age we need to pray like never before together. We need to pray for each other. We need to pray for the character of our Sovereign God to be poured out on all flesh.  We need to pray out what King David prayed out.  We all should be seeking the will of God not our will. Our Pastor Chris, Sunday encouraged us each day, EVERY DAY, pray this prayer…

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

There is nothing more powerful , NOTHING, than a warrior for Christ armed with Prayer, Presence (acting as the hands and feet of our Savior) and the word of God. It is a force to be reckoned with. It breaks spiritual strongholds in the realms of darkness. The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in our God who is being prayed to.

1 John 5:14-15 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of him.” We need the passion behind the prayer. We need purpose behind the prayer – KNOW that God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers will always be in the best interest of His children. The more of Him we seek the more our desires will line up with His will. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God’s will, God  will respond powerfully!

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20). 2 Corinthians tells us, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

The Bible commands us, ” pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.’‘

I am pleading  that we become more aware of our words even if the words are, ” I am praying for you.” They are just idle words if we do not do what we say. My motto that I have said for 25 years as a Manager of many people through the years is, ” My word is my bond.” I strive my best to hold up to that standard. BUT, the Lord has checked my spirit lately and has taken this quote over my heart to a new level. He want us to be accountable on every word we speak. He is listening. So it simply boils down to if I say, “Hey, let me call you right back.” DO IT ~ If I say I am going to be there at 12:00. BE THERE and don’t be late. If I say, let’s do lunch, DO IT~ EVERY single word ~ Is this hitting home with anybody else???

When we say, ” Prayers sent.” Send them. Better yet, GO and pray with your friend. If you cannot physically go because of distance, call and pray, email a heartfelt prayer.  See how your friendship will deepen. See how the Lord will minister to both of you. When you simply show up, God will show out ~ He loves doing that kind of thing. The power of prayer should not be used loosely. It should never be underestimated. The word of God says “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

My hope is that these words touch the hearts that it is meant to touch.  Today someone will pick up on a phone to a friend and say I am thinking about you.  May I pray with you? Someone will show up unannounced to a home with a meal, or flowers, or go visit the person that has been sick or in the hospital. Acts of kindness are always remembered. Acts of kindness make lasting impacts. Acts of kindness with prayers breaks the back of the enemy. Each day the Lord is teaching us  to Listen and Obey, Be Real and Transparent.

I am planting the seed that my soulmate has asked me to plant. I know the Lord will provide the water for this seed. SO THAT, each one of us can say theses words, pray these words and listen to His still small voice when we ask….

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, that keeps me from following you. My heart has deceived me many times before and I have walked in my own desires. Strip away all of our selfishness and clothe us with more of you. I ask these things in the powerful name of Jesus. There is no other name ~