No, this is not a blog post about the 1984 movie Ghostbusters popular song... it is about being thankful that I have someone to call who will stop what they are doing, take time to listen, and pray with me in the moment.
Knowing that I can pick up the phone and call a friend and they will stop and pray with me and for me is something that I am extremely grateful for, perhaps now more than ever. It happened again for me this morning. I am so used to the rhythm of having to schedule a call, or text first and see if someone is available but today I just called. (kind of like we used to) And she answered. And we talked for a few minutes and then we prayed. Talking about a topic is helpful, prayer is powerful. Talking about the need is good, prayer brings Jesus into the need and then I can be reminded of who has me and the situation, of who is in control, and who is with me.
Perspective shifts happen in prayer: from worry to worship, from anxious to able, from fear to faith, from hurt to healing, from struggle to surrender. The focus is off of myself and onto my Savior.
So today, like many other days (when my daughter was in labor, during the pandemic, when I hear difficult news about someone I care about, when those I love are struggling or disagreeing) I call my friend, she answers, we pray, and I am thankful.
What if the friend you call doesn't answer? That has also happened to me, many times. And then I call another friend, and then another. There have been many times when all the people I have tried to reach out to for support aren't available. That is when the Holy Spirit reminds me, with a gentle whisper, "Go ahead, go directly to your Father in heaven. He is always available and if you don't know what to pray, I can help with that too."
" In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
I am thankful for the friends I have to call on who know the importance of praying right then and there with me. And I am thankful to be that person for others who will remember to stop in the moment and turn the need over to Jesus in prayer. That reminds me of another song, not from a movie about ghosts, but an old hymn; "What a Friend We Have In Jesus"
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear And what a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit Oh, what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer
What experiences have you had with prayer recently? I would love to hear from you.
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