Praying For Friends

I've returned refreshed, renewed, ready.

I was so energized and lifted by the bright

spirits and missional vitality of my friends.

There were seven of us from my school,

and three people from two other surrounding

schools. Together, a band of artists in Chicago's

loop, we shared and prayed for the vision.

It's empowering and contagious, the love these

people have for our (three) campuses.

It was a week of training. Most of us learned

how to lead a small group -more than a Bible study.

We all planned and prayed about the summer and

year to come. We shared how God was working in

us individually.

The level of God's multitasking always amazes me.

And I know it's healing to be around others who hold

up a flag-post in their lives that say 

"Here God is! He is working here in me!"

I like to see that. I need to see that.

Campfires. Singing. Praying. Sharing. Group games.

However I think one of the most powerful

things I did all week was pray specifically 

for my friends.

Praying for friends, a list of things on their

heart, is an honor and a joy. It's a responsibility

I did not take lightly.

Since reading Manning's book I've tried to

figure out how I can keep from becoming

apathetic, without having those "feelings"

of divine inspiration.

All I know is that giving up on praying or

worshiping or reading the Bible is exactly

what our enemy would want.

So to get myself up out of bed in the morning,

to bring myself to my knees in the afternoon

and evenings, I used a list of prayer requests

as my weapon.

I care so much about my friends, and I pray

to care even more. I want to intercede for

their concerns to God.

So praying for my friends was what most

kept me accountable and on track and in

communication with God last week.

...

Last night two friends from camp came over

and we were talking about just this with Jake an I. 

An image came to the mind of my friend Michael.

He said it's like when you're trying to get someone

out of a hole and you tie a rope around your waist

to climb on down and bring you both up.

I responded quickly with the obvious analogy

that God is like that rope, and if we go after our

friend's causes, we rely more on Him.

Jesus said He will proceed us and always go with us.

But then later Michael was holding the Bible

and then flipped and landed on this passage;

"Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, '

Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.'

So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. 

He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there 

and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.

Ebed-Melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, 

'Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.'

Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. 

And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard."

Jeremiah 38:10-13

How is that for encouraging!?