prayer encounters

I shared a story a few weeks ago about a teenage boy named Ronnie that was new to our youth group last year.  (See Youth Prayer Circle:http://prayerencounters.com/2012/07/06/youth-prayer-circle/)

At our most recent Summer Hoops program Ronnie showed up.  It was the first time I had seen him this summer.  He had some trouble getting on a team, which is a shame because he can really play.  So instead he just hung out with the other boys.  And of course, he chatted all the way through my half-time message.

As we were eating, he asked if I could take him home afterward.  I agreed.  His family had moved out of walking distance at the end of the school year.

I needed to leave early to get home in time for dinner with extended family that was in town to see our new baby.

“Ronnie,” I said. “Please hurry up and eat.  I need to get home to my family.”

He got up and tossed his half-eaten plate in the trash.  Uggh.  “Ok. Let’s go.”

“I didn’t mean you had to throw it away.”

He walked on ahead of me.

We got into the car.  He said, “Was that your wife holding that baby in the back of the gym?”  Yes it was.  He paused a bit, “I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer.”  I had noticed he had called, but I was in the middle of something.  He did not leave a message.  “My mom had to have surgery.  She lost a baby.  It got stuck in her tubes.  I wanted you to come and pray with her like we do at church.  She ok now.”  He pause and then said, “I ain’t gonna cause any trouble on Wednesday nights any more.  I’ll be good.”

Family could wait.  “Is she at home now?”

“Yeah, I been takin’ care of her.”

“We could go pray for her now.”

He led me up the stairs and he went in the door and signaled for me to wait.  He came back, “She on the balcony.”  He led me to her.

She had the look of dulled pain and grief that I have seen many times.  She smiled faintly when she saw me.  “Hey, Pastor Paul.”

We talked a little about what had happened.  Ronnie stood by her.  Then I offered to pray.  He took my hand with his right hand and his mother’s with his left.  I took her hand and we prayed.

It was a family prayer circle.

For the last few years Mike, a member of our church, has been living in a nursing home.  I have written about him and his wife Jo before.  It seems like every time I spend time with either of them, God shows up in some very noticeable way.

My last visit was no exception.

Mike’s roommate is Mr. Molina.  It is not clear what his age is.  I have never seen him with a visitor. Jo told me that he used to be some kind of federal agent.  He has advanced dementia.  He cannot speak and has to be fed and changed like a baby.

Normally when I visit Mike, Mr. Molina turns over in bed so that his back faces us.  When I pray with Mike and Jo, we also include him in our prayers.  I have no idea what he hears and recognizes.

Before I leave I always try to say a few words to him and offer a blessing of some sort.  He has never given me any sign that he sees me or hears me—not at least until this last visit.

I brought bread and wine to serve communion to Mike and Jo, as they both missed the last service.  As I walked into the room, Jo and Mike greeted me with their normal smiles and greetings.

I looked across the room and there was Mr. Molina looking at me for the first time.  His eyes seemed to be greeting me though he could speak no words. He looked like he knew me.

I asked Mike how he was doing.  He was fine and glad to see me.  I looked across the room and Mr. Molina was still looking at me.  His eyes were locked on me.

I read the scripture for the week, Mark 9:33-37.  The last two verses are ^“Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’”

I gave the invitation to the meal.  “It is the Lord’s Supper and he is the one who invites us.”  I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and asked for grace.  We said “Amen”.  Mr. Molina was still looking and seemed very much like he wanted to join us.

I broke the bread, a bit of pita, and poured a small amount of wine in the little, holy shot glasses.  Mike always says the same thing with a slight smile, “That’s real wine.”  It is the only wine he ever gets to have any more.

I served Mike and Jo and then asked Mr. Molina if he would receive the sacrament.  I knew that he could not eat and drink with us or even answer me, so I got close to him and held it out to him and pronounced “This is the body of Christ broken for us.”  I ate the bread for him.  “This is the blood of Christ shed for us.” I drank the wine for him.

He opened his mouth and made a sound like he was clearing his throat.  He almost looked like he would weep.

Jo, Mike and I said the Lord’s Prayer together with Mr. Molina looking our way all the time.

Jo looked over at her husband, swaddled in his bed, and looked backed at me with tears and said, “I know what that scripture means.” She backed up in her chair a little so that Mike could not see her and she pointed him.

I looked over to Mr. Molina, still looking intently at me.  I knew what it meant as well.

It is good to be welcome.

One of my favorite times of prayer is on Wednesday evenings with our high school youth.  At the end of our devotional time we gather in a circle in the front of the sanctuary and hold hands.  We begin by sharing any answered prayers we have experienced since we met last. 

Since we began doing this it has made an enormous difference in the way the youth pray and what they pray for.  Before this practice we could barely get them to pray for anything.  Once they began to experience answered prayer, they began to pray more and more fervently. 

At this point we have to allow for at least 15 minutes for prayer.  I suspect that they would pray for a good 30 minutes if we had more time.  This is amazing to me considering when I pray with our elders it’s a stretch to get five minutes of prayer.  We are so busy!

The youth praying will step forward toward the middle of the circle and bring a request.  The group responds “Lord, hear our prayer.”  They pray for upcoming exams and sporting events, for family and friends, for peace on earth and goodwill toward all, for challenges in the neighborhood, for spiritual growth, our church, etc.

We always pray for more youth to join us.  This is one of my favorites because when it happens we tell that new youths that they are an answer to our prayers.  They always beam.  I love it. 

Our high schoolers are a mix of children raised in the church and children from the neighborhood who came to us primarily through our Summer Hoops program.  Every year we have a few new kids from the neighborhood.  It always takes some time for a new youth who has never been a part of a church or a youth group to learn how to behave.  Sometimes this poses a great challenge to both the leaders and the other youth. 

One of our new kids this year has been particularly challenging.  He was invited by another boy who has been very challenging himself.  We had to suspend them both from coming for two weeks at one point.  One of them said, “You can’t kick us out!  This is church!”  I said, “Exactly.  Church is where we respect and love each other and you are doing neither.  I want you to think about why you come here.” 

We were not sure if we would see them again.  After two weeks, there they were ready for more.  I am not saying that they were angels, but there was improvement.  Baby steps. 

As we finished our devotion we began to circle up for prayer, our two trouble boys practically wrestled each other to get to the spot to my left to hold my hand in the prayer circle.  The new boy won the spot.  He took my hand and we all began to pray.  I felt love and respect from both of those boys if only for a few moments. 

I am not sure either of these boys can articulate why they come to youth night.  It’s perhaps too deep for words.  I think they want to belong. 

Prayer has a way of including others.  In prayer we belong to God.  When we pray with each other we belong to each other as well.

A couple of years ago, I made a simple but life altering resolution: never delay to pray. I found myself saying “I will keep you in my prayers” a lot and often I would indeed do that, but as often I would forget.  The phrase felt more like just something Christians say to each other.  A nice sentiment.

So now when someone expresses a need, a joy, or an unfulfilled hope to me, I say, “Can I offer a short prayer?”  I might take his hand or place my hand on her shoulder if it seems appropriate.  Always best to ask permission.  Then I pray usually no more than 10 seconds if it is in public.

The whole purpose of this blog and my book is to encourage you to make the same resolution.  You will be surprised how easy it is and how large of an impact it can make.

You may also be surprised how few, if any, people turn you down.  The key is to listen and observe.  Remember that the goal is not to pray with people.  The goal is to respond to need.  If people feel like their need is being attended to rather than your need to pray or spread the gospel, then you will always get a yes.

It also might mean that you have to do something in addition to praying.  Prayer often accompanies action.  For example, if someone is hungry feed him.

Do not forget to include the people closest to you.  When your spouse or you child or your brother or your mother or your best friend is struggling offer to pray.  I have found that good listening followed by prayer is a heck of a lot more helpful and welcome than my advice.

In short: never delay to pray!  Make a resolution today and begin to change the world starting with your own.