Family Life

POST OF AN OLD DRAFT. Originally dated Sunday, April 13, 2008.

Sunday evenings are a little different now. Instead of the usual church service, we meet together for prayer. Still the same venue, but instead of a congregation sitting in orderly rows facing the front, where a man stands behind the pulpit to address the crowd, we’re all gathered around into a circle facing each other for prayer. We figured this was a better way to spend our time together. If we want to see God’s power at work in our congregation we have to pray.

Rob, one of the elders, passes around a sheet of notes to get the ball rolling, and gives a brief explanation of the evening’s topic. For example, if tonight we were to pray for three unsaved friends the sheet would have some verses and bullet points with examples on how to specifically pray for the lost. What God’s will is. What Jesus had to say about it. How the apostles implemented Jesus’ teachings. And how all that can be applied in a contemporary context.

So far so good.

Then he splits us up into small groups. Three to a group, occasionally four. Groups of men. Groups of women. Groups of young people. The guys in my group are not who I would have picked myself. In fact, I’d class our relationship as stiff, formal. Prayer is a very personal thing, very intimate, if the prayer is real and genuine and not just a pious front. How can I pray like that with these guys? Maybe that’s Rob’s point. Push me out of my comfort zone. Well, I’m certainly uncomfortable.

Tonight’s mission is to pray for our church, and to pray for each other. That is, just for the people in your small group. The other guys go first, making their prayer requests. I hold back, waiting till last. Do I want to make some generic, safe request? Keep it impersonal? That’s all I feel capable of. I’m afraid that if I start talking about what’s really troubling me I’ll lose it. On the other hand, what’s the point of going to all the trouble of changing the weekly schedule, to replace the decades-old tradition of a Sunday evening service, to ask for God’s Holy Spirit to intervene, if I’m just going to hide behind fake, glib remarks?

So I take a deep breath and blurt it all out. Work, home, the lot. There’s silence. Then one of the guys says, “You know, in all these years this is the first time we’ve ever prayed for Stephen’s work situation.” And so we start praying. And it’s real. At some level I’m still uncomfortable. After all, I’m not terribly close to these guys, and the issues cut deep. But we’re heeding the command given in Philippians 4:

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NET)

And the promise of verse 7 is real to me.

There’s a rocky road ahead, but I’m part of the family of God, a family that cares for me. More importantly, I’m a child of God, a God who loves me and gave Himself for me. I don’t know how the next few months will play out. But I know where I am safe, and to whom I belong.

Photo note: group shot from a Youth Event weekend at church.

Postscript: yes, we’ve always had prayer meetings at church. The difference now is that they’re on Sunday evening instead of Wednesday evening. We’ll get more of the congregation involved that way.

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