Prayer Team

This week I've seen different types of prayer teams. As I was standing in a cashier's checkout lane, two people ahead of me started talking and the fact came out that the man had just been laid off. The first response of the woman was that she would say a prayer for him that night. He said he would appreciate it since he had a lead on an interview the next day. I was impressed, but I also distanced from the situation a little because she just came off as a bit odd. She was probably very sincere but she chatted so much that you couldn't tell if offering a prayer was just something else to say. Then yesterday I was in a group of four people waiting for an event to start and one girl asked us to include a prayer when we said our nightly prayers for her grandmother who was about to undergo heart surgery within the hour. One second later one of the men held out his hands and there was no question but that we were also supposed to offer our hands to make a circle. The prayer was short and simple, but its immediacy spoke of earnestness and sincerity.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Help us to remain in prayer at all times and not limit ourselves by hours or protocol. Hear our prayers which request attention for the care of the earth, reflect concern for citizens beyond our borders, pursue peace with neighbors, seek wisdom for our nation's leaders, petition discernment and energy for our congregation, beseech healthy bodies for our families, implore guidance for our children, and heed our desire to be in your presence all the days of our lives. Tune our ears towards the anxious needs of those around us. Let us be bold and generous in our prayers. We are blessed that our prayers and concerns are ever in your vigilance. Let us remain on watch for opportunities to pray and to offer the hand of fellowship, in Christ's name we pray, Amen.