Pray It And Mean It

This is Amy Thomas from the masculine journey podcast where we discover what it means to be a wholehearted man your chosen Truth Network podcast is starting in just seconds. Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing The Truth Podcast Network. This is the Truth Network encouraging prayer, God offers an open invitation for his people to talk with him at any time about anything, and encouraging prayer Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling product and many other books on prayer provides weekly biblical insight help you learn to love and now sits today on encouraging prayer will talk about how to play and mean it. Now you may be wondering what's that mean well if you ever told someone that you pray for them and then forgot about it later. And I think we've all had that experience sometimes is when someone says you're in my thoughts and prayers and and I think the reason I say that is they wonder it's really sincere because it's so easy to say but sometimes you know so much harder to do. One of the reasons why I love it when someone says and I got this need in my life.

If you just write in a moment about that right now just drop everything and pray spontaneously, and that what you don't forget.

Do it later, but we don't want to be critical of people saying you're my thoughts and prayers because we need all the prayer we can get. And when someone says that they mean well, we mean well, but then the question becomes how is our follow-up. So let's talk about that.

How do we follow up email only found out about any one of the things I like to do is just write it down on the list guy and the reason I like lists is that they help me stay focused. It's one thing to say you're praying for someone with another to tell them that there on your daily live in a good way) and it's still another to be able to pull out that list and show them their name on it, not as a way of things who are in a spiritual you know is a way of backing up that you really do mean that you really are praying I think that's a good witness for this that also the danger of the list mean that you can rush through it too fast without really thinking about it know what you're saying or really even who you are praying for you and people shy away from list for that reason that can happen or not really dialed in, so it takes focus, but I find that having a list actually helps me focus. I made you know, prayed at different speeds work on different days, but sometimes you can really slow down and just think about each need think about each person concentrate and pray you know for whatever is going on in their lives. That's awesome I found another thing that helps is to check in with the person I'm praying for and get an update. I mean, it might be a text message or quick call know that can help you know how to pray for specific similar situation. It also helps keep it fresh in your mind yeah yeah that's a great suggestion and another thing you can do is write yourself a note like to post it somewhere so that you will be reminded to do it or you might put it on the dashboard of your car on your refrigerator on your desk at work. With just a name or or just need just a prompt you like pictures for that as well and sometimes I think about looking at someone's picture that helps me really think about them and what they might be going through is matter fact I often put those notes on my phone and I will Notes thing on my phone and in there you can connect the picture with the note yeah I like that there are so many ways you can do that, you know, inviting a person over dinner and saying one of the things I want to do when when you're here or when we go out whatever you know is to spend a few minutes just praying for you and your situation. Be intentional about a lot of this just comes down to setting aside time right and here's one. How about if someone is praying for product for one of their children. Partnering with them to pray for a book like purser particles are another book. James wrote by the way, shameless plug prayers for your children. I really like that. But honestly, following up like that is important for the reasons why it is that you know are praying for others wow are praying for others we might find that God brings them things to mind for them that they really may help them meet. It may be something we can do for them, or course of action that really would make a difference.

Yeah, absolutely not. What we need to make prayer first resort instead of a lot more welcoming God the situation were seeking his with his power and MS another thing we can ask God to help us pray to show us how to pray for someone and of such a simple step.

I think sometimes we forget it, but he'll lead us in creative ways and and bring things to mind. We never talk about. I was just thinking about the difference this can make for someone because we probably all have those moments where were practically feel that someone was praying for us right and there's a closeness with God and that between us and them. And really when they're tuned in yeah yeah I love that there really is deepens our relationship with God and with those praying for, because when you're praying for someone well. Your loving them well. Just think about those moments when someone was praying for you and you did know you know you you knew you could count on them for it. That's cold. I mean I think of times when her son was in rehab work cord going through this tough time it was just all we could do to get through the day and there would be a few people around us, like David's mighty men you know who we knew were going to the mat for something they really really praying and I think about.

Another time we went through with her daughter and it was the same sort of situation we knew they were praying and medical important you know, this is holy ground and by the way, that brings up another great person that's fasting yeah that's cool, let's talk about that's what it means.

A lot of you have this deep need in your life you are getting something like a court date you block out Monday lunch to fast and pray for you… What a gift you know and they say tell me what to pray for you to be all him because you're so grateful that they're doing that or another approach might be. Could we fast and pray together and you can agree on a time. Thursday afternoon at lunch and make it easier you make it a juice fast again for just a mule but then follow up with them later and see what God gives you because often you clarity the situation and then something good will break loose. As a result, I like that it's been a really good conversation.

James and I think will help a lot of people because again, this is just about being sincere about saying it and meaning it praying so James is going wrap this up would take you moment ourselves to pray we can do these things all start new finish so Jesus, thank you for this reminder and for opportunities to connect with you and connect with you with other people. What a delight that would be Lord help us to use this and you and our opportunity for show how to hear more from Pastor James by visiting the website.

James bank.org or by visiting these church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you to pray. This is the Truth Network