by the Rev. Rob Moore, Assistant to the Bishop, Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod
Power. It is human nature to want it, work for it, struggle for it, and do just about anything to get it. We have Power Diets, PowerPoint, Power of Positive Thinking, Powerade, the Power of Boldness, and the Power of Self Esteem. We even have Tim Allen, on the comedy sitcom “Home Improvement,” grunting out the male theme song, “more power, ugh, ugh!”
But what about the Power of Prayer? One of the most unused gifts that God has given us is prayer. One of the characteristics of Lutherans (at least according to a list that starts “You might be a Lutheran if …) is that “Lutherans will faint if asked to pray in public.” It is time to re-claim this great and powerful gift from God. It is time to say with the disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
As part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) evangelism strategy, new resources have been developed to help individuals and congregations grow in prayer and discipleship. Let’s grow in prayer until someday someone writes a joke like “You might be a Lutheran if … you are a prayer warrior!”
Here are just some of the resources that are available to you as you grow your prayer life.
Prayer video
With Hands Uplifted – A Call to Prayer is a new video produced by the ELCA’s evangelism team. This seven-minute video can be used in Bible studies, small groups, prayer ministries, worship, council and committee meetings, youth group meetings—whenever the people of God gather. It is available on DVD only. (Copies were given out at this year’s synod assembly. Check with the church office if you’d like to view the video.)
To pray is to trust. We trust God’s promise to listen, to forgive, to renew, and change us as we pray. Just as a loving parent invites a child to talk at any time, God invites and encourages us to enter into a prayer “conversation” of praise, petition, confession, speaking, listening, silence, and song. The ways people pray – kneeling, sitting, standing, singing, dancing, at meals with hands folded or uplifted, in worship, work, or play – are as diverse as the people who pray.
Prayer Website
Additional resources on prayer can be found at the ELCA Prayer website. Go to the site and take a moment to pray the Psalms as part of the Meditation page. Or experience the Prayer for Healing. Discover resources to teach prayer to children, youth, adults, and families. Learn ways to advance prayer ministry in your congregation and community.
Prayer Requests
The Prayer website provides a place to request prayer petitions. Concerns submitted online are sent to individuals of the ELCA prayer network who commit to pray for 30 days for that prayer request. If a prayer group in your congregation or community would like to become part of the prayer network, register online at www.prayingchurch.org.
Now – Expect Results
In his book The Everyday, Anytime Guide to Prayer, Pastor Walt Kallestad writes: “Expectation and answered prayer go together. First, expectation helps us hear God’s answer. If we pray but don’t expect any answer at all, we might not hear what God has to say because we aren’t listening anyway. Second, expectation helps us hear God’s answer. If we pray but expect to hear only the answer we want, we might miss the real answer.”
In Isaiah 65, God says to God’s people, “Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.”
For more information on these and other resources, go to www.elca.org/evangelism.