I would like to hear about how groups you are a part of take prayer request and handle the request. As many of us look for ways to grow and learn in prayer we look for ways to connect with others in caring and sharing.
Rebecca Dwight Bruff shares “…it’s not about us. It’s about what God is doing in the world. What if all of Jesus’ apprentices imagined a world made whole and holy by the love and grace of God?” She also shares her thoughts of the what if’s by saying, “I BELIEVE THAT asking “What if?” is a worthwhile spiritual practice. It keeps our eyes and minds open to what God is doing in the world, and it keeps us grounded as well.”
I sat in church this past Sunday celebrating “Homecoming” a practice some churches still celebrate to acknowledge their history. The history of the church was given on a digital overhead overview of just shy of 150 years. I took notice that my father’s family were ‘steel magnolias’ in that little corner of God’s earth. Before, I entered the doors I felt a little proud to acknowledge my heritage when I heard words from my heart echo, “… The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it…” Psalm 24
Gary and I greeted our church bulletin with neon joy as we gazed upon the drawing of the church building on its cover. Inside was overflowing with pleasures for the day. The back cover was laden with name after name of suffering and pain. My heart of pride turned to dust and I begin to imagine Jesus taking His finger and writing truths in my dust, all loved, accepted, healed, and gifted as mercy drops fall on each life given by grace as I prayed.
Moses asked to see God’s Glory, And God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The LORD’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” Exodus 33: 18,19, Romans 9:15
Today, I hear God say, “Sara, it’s not about you and what you will and the way you run your race BUT about God who shows MERCY!” Romans 9:16 Just pray!
thedailylily.com 
A baptist Sunday school group that I have been attending recently asks if those present have a prayer request and then some share, usually about a relative or someone they know that may be ill or suffering, etc. Then a leader in the group takes the requests to the
lord in a general prayer about requests made. At the end of the class all join hands and someone else leads in another fairly general prayer lifting up members and requests made earlier.
This church also says prayers can be written on a paper provided in the service and placed in the offering. The bulletin says an online request can be submitted as well.
Where does online or written request go?
Says there is a prayer ministry and lists a contact person if one wants to volunteer to be a partner in prayer. There is a sheet where written requests are published and made available. Also, I read that the church has a Wed night prayer service in their chapel.
I read today, ” WE CAN BE SURE that Jesus keeps his promise and that when we gather in his name, he will be with us. We are often blessed by being in community. We receive encouragement, guidance, comfort, and hope by participating in a community. … These gifts of community are available to us all, and we receive them more readily when we remember that Jesus meets us there.”–Rueben P. Job”- Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job….A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God
We often quote, Matthew 18:20 confirming the gathering…..
In my church group on Wednesday nights a clip board is passed around detailing any prayer request. At the end of the service the Pastor list aloud all the various needs that are listed by the church members. We are asked to pray for the members and a deacon then offers up a prayer for all the people listed.
At BSF International we lift up the prayers of BSF Intl. which are listed on their site, then local prayers for other groups in the community teaching God’s word, then for new groups that are being established or nightly prayer groups to establish new groups and then leadership needs/ regional and locally, and if time individual prayer needs which are to be written out on a 3 x5 card which are handed to your right will be prayed over. If you receive a card you will pray for that prayer request for the week. It will then be given to the teacher leader who will lift the prayers up during the week/s.
On Friday noons…12:15-12:45 there is a conference call in which I have been participating sponsored by ‘Intercessors For America’ [IFApray]. Many Christians from all over the USA are linked together in this call. The prayer leader David Kubal pres. of IFApray sometimes leads in prayer. Other times other Christian leaders, sometimes faithful Christian political persons are on the line leading. Then the line is unmuted and we all join in praying for what the leader has asked of the Lord, interceding for each request.
After the half hour is over, we are allowed to stay linked and continue to pray together until 1:15 if we are led to remain and do so.
It is very heartening and encouraging to hear many, many Christians setting aside their lunch hour to pray together with fellow believers for our nation.
Sounds like a lot of prayer groups gathering in multi ways. Encouraging…
Day after day as my eyes begin to see, my ears begin to hear from inside out and not outside in which is a goal of mine since the day of reading seeing but you don’t see, hearing but you don hear from this story told by the seerer of seers; “The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables are at times revealed with a light from within. Matthew 13:12 plus…”For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13) “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14) “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;…”
” The back cover was laden with name after name of suffering and pain. My heart of pride turned to dust and I begin to imagine Jesus taking His finger and writing truths in my dust, all loved, accepted, healed, and gifted as mercy drops fall on each life given by grace as I prayed.” Yes, my eyes saw each name as a child being rocked in the bosom of the Healer, Jesus. To have moments of compassion to share which is a balm of truth, integrity, with faith words to offer a whisper of a prayer found by a light from within.
At my church, prayer requests are written down and shared with the congregration. All are encouraged to share any other requests, not written. During prayer time, the prayer requests are prayed for.
Great to hear how prayer requests are prayed for in different churches. Are there praise follow ups? Isn’t it almost mind overload to think churches in various parts of the world might even be praying for us? Whoa!
Yes, there are praise reports for prayer requests.
In The Bible study group of mature women in which I am participating it’s very gratifying to hear the different members give up-to- date reports on how the recipients of our prayers are coming along. Several of the members visit the sick in rehab facilities, hospitals and their home, or even phone calls or cards or in whatever milieu the patients might be. They report on the gladness their visits bring and the reassurance that their church members are praying for them. These sound like works of mercy!
Even on thedailylily.com prayers have gone up for one another and those God has touched through this ministry and it is so touching to see how Soverign God has worked in the lives of people, building character, and bringing each to places where they will use what He has taught them in their journey with Him and helping others around them who see their journey with God. What a Joy of Joy to see the hand of God move in lives. In BSF and the Baptist Church I attend there are always praise reports. Sometimes the prayers go on for years, some seem to the human eye difficult but with sovereign God in control their is nothing to fear He will answer and the prayer asked will be more than just an answer to the prayer. WHY? Because He is all seeing and knows what is needed to set us free and more and more take on the character of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
And, in addition to Rena’s sharing on the prayer structure of thedailylily we also maintain a prayer boxes for family and friends. We continue to remember those in our box in prayer.
I wonder if prayers are thoughtless words or faith based words that render results. I watched Giants Madison Bumgarner pitch like a pitching machine. I don’t think anyone thought he would not get the job done. And, he got it done with a World Series win that says Madison. What a magnificent modern day thrill. I wonder if the name of Jesus thrills and renders results like Madison! Did you win any World Series today, yesterday, this month pitching prayers to the creator of the entire world like Madison for three days pitched?