Praying for Strangers

I think my favorite commitment for Project 365 is praying for others. In light of my recent battle with God, praying for others has been a way for me to talk to God without having to address my stuff (I know, I know... I'll get there eventually). I love praying for my friends and co-workers, taking the time to really consider their needs and the unique situations each are facing. And when I have the time, I love sending a little note in the mail to let that person know I've been praying (an idea inspired by Allison). 

While I find great satisfaction and joy in praying for the people I love, this Sunday at our church's worship night, I had the distinct privilege of praying with and for some complete strangers. As people were invited to come forward for prayer, I let down my armor for a moment and asked God to use me in spite of our little stand off. Thankfully, He obliged, and I was able to pray with a handful of strangers. I heard stories of brokenness and fear. I heard requests for clarity and peace moving into an uncertain future. I held hands that were soaked with tears and trembling from the pain of life. Knowing little more than a first name and a minute long synopsis of their story, together we turned to God in prayer. 

Because Mariners is a fairly large church spread over 4 campuses, the likelihood that I will encounter these people again is slim at best. I will probably never hear how they experienced God's answer to these prayers, or even what coming forward that night did in their hearts. But I can say what it did in my heart. Holding the hands of those strangers, coming together before the same God to ask for peace, clarity, hope, comfort, and healing on their behalf, believing with everything in me that He wants to hear and receive those prayers for those people... well, it reminded me that He wants to hear and receive those prayers from me too. Suddenly, I was face to face with a compassionate God who loves to redeem and restore the broken places in our lives, if only we would let Him in. And that's as true for me as it is for those strangers. 

I'm still not quite there. I'm still wrestling with some of these issues, laying the groundwork for the inevitable surrender that's to come...but I do know it's coming. And I'm a little less mad about it...

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15