Hello
So it’s one of those fairytale weekends when God threw in a desire/want right alongside the need. Yay God! How are you at receiving gifts, whether from God or others? I think it matters because supplication/intercession is a gift to ourselves as well as to others; and perhaps one of the reasons we are sometimes uncomfortable, lies in our response to receiving gifts and sharing of ourselves.
But hear today’s nougat
Is any of you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5.14
For many of us, even prior to HIPA, sharing our prayer concerns has proven challenging. And, perhaps that concern is founded and justified. (I remember sharing a concern once with someone who felt the need to share it with another; and the another ran with it and soon I became the topic of much conversation – behind my back.)
But what if we were to take God at God’s word? Ignore the human trust factor – we will all remain humans, but it is God who transforms – and take that faith leap in prayer by calling for the elders of the church to join us in prayer? Can you imagine what radical impact out would have on our faith and on our prayer lives? (And if the folks gossip; pray in advance that each gossip prays for the issue BEFORE opting to share your news)
Remember yesterday’s nougat suggested that the prayer of supplication is seasoned and sealed in the Spirit? Well, that’s what the anointing aspect of the instructions references. The Holy Spirit is often symbolized by oil, and the act of anointing. For me, it is as though we’re saying; ‘May God add substance to this prayer.’
So again, there is that passionate, intense connection with God; we invite (spiritually mature) others to join us as we face God with our issue; and the Holy Spirit’s presence is symbolized by the anointing.
What a gift to share in! What a gift to receive!
For whom shall you pray today (don’t tell me; tell God)
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
