I grew up in the Bible Belt. You know, the place where there was a church on every corner. Well, that might be a bit of exaggeration, but there were lots of churches. If you took a drive through the countryside, a church would appear out of nowhere, no houses in view. If you took a drive into town, you could see a first, second, or even a third Baptist church once removed. You might find a United Methodist, a Congregational Methodist, Church of God, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, and the list goes on. Some of those old country churches now have their doors closed.
Some parishioners change churches as easily as changing a pair of pants. They are called church hoppers. Whenever our family changed churches, we had a slight disadvantage, or maybe it was an advantage, because we couldn’t get away from the preacher. Nope, he went with us.
Through the years, I have heard lots of prayers float to the rafters and beyond. Some folks have “unspoken requests” while others voice prayer requests publicly, many that should remain silent and held in strict confidence. One man in a church I attended had his own way with prayer. He spoke loudly and much too clearly as he began his prayer, “Lord, you know Sister Sally is having a hard time since she found out her husband is seeing Jane Thermabotham. You know they have been seen together out on the town…..” And the “prayer” continued. (names have been changed as to not incriminate someone) By the time the last “Amen” was given, word was all over town. Of course, the man who prayed wondered how everybody in town knew about Sally’s situation. The damage was done. Every time he prayed, I thought, “you don’t have to tell God what he already knows and no one else needs to know it, true or not!”
There are people I love to hear pray. One of my special ladies prays and when she says, “Amen,” all eyes open wide just knowing that God will be sitting right there beside her. Who knows? She might even be found sitting in His lap! Another of my special girls prays and a sense of reverence and awe flow into the room. Her words draw a clear picture of holiness. An exemplary gracious lady who has now gone on prayed quietly. She was one known as a “prayer warrior.” Never did anyone hear her repeat something in prayer that pointed a finger of judgment. She silently reached the gates of heaven with her sincere requests, but it didn’t end there. Her prayers were accompanied with action. If there was a need she could help meet, she did it quietly with no recognition. She learned what many others know – there is power in prayer and accompanied with love, it reaches the throne room of heaven.