I Say A Little Prayer

Last night I lay awake on my bed. Gazing at the ceiling and praying the Lord's prayer.

Like a waterfall cascading on the rocks below, my prayer thoughts flowed and rushed downstream. It was natural to then speak of what's deep in the heart. My heart thought of  my loved ones - family, relatives and friends.

One by one their faces and names floated by, like autumn leaves carried along now in this direction, then sucked into tiny whirlpool spins, and then tiring of the game, dances onwards, downwards. I had people on my heart.

As I prayed, questions arose in my heart. These questions startled me because they were like bright search lights piercing the veil of darkness in the woodland. These questions, I believe, were from God's heart. Poking me, provoking me to examine my heart and my prayer.

Questions like, do I really care where my loved ones & friends will spend eternity if they don't know and receive the good news of Jesus.

Questions like, how far am I willing to go to see them enter the gates of heaven. Am I going to be just praying, or will I do something practical, on top of praying for them.

Questions like, do I really believe what I praying? And, how much love and desperation is there in my prayer?

As names came up in my prayer, there were some whom I've not met up for years. Many of them were people living in the same city as me! I thought, have I gotten so busy or engrossed with other things that these people have become a tiny footnote in my book.

As I prayed I'm pressed towards the conclusion that I must avail myself to be God's answer to my prayers for their salvation. I don't mean to use big words or churchy words.

What I really mean is I want my loved ones & people I care about to be where I'll be in eternity - a place called heaven, by God's side. Just as Jesus promised, to all who would come to Him.

If every disciple of Jesus Christ would activate their prayer life in this direction and then take practical steps to connect, churches will be filled with friends and relatives and colleagues - far more than what is happening right now in churches.

So it was a while before I fell asleep. I must be willing to be a part of God's answer for my loved ones. This starts with prayer but must continue into time to connect with them, to love & to serve, and to share how Jesus has changed my life.