i'll pray for you

          I vividly recall talking to a woman who had just come to faith in Christ. She was explaining why, during her first-ever, small group meeting, she had broken into tears upon hearing her name mentioned in prayer by a fellow group member. “No one had ever prayed for me before,” she said. “I was overwhelmed.”
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          I was moved by her words, and also deeply humbled. “I will pray for you” are words we commonly say to one another around the church. When I saw how profoundly moved this woman was by hearing her name mentioned in prayer, I was struck by how easily we take for granted this precious gift, which we routinely give to one another.
 
          “I will pray for you.” We can make this offer to one another because God has thrown open the doors to his throne room through Jesus Christ. When we pray for one another, we invite God to bring his grace and power to bear on our life's biggest challenges. God assures us he will never fail to hear us, even if we cannot always understand how he is answering our prayers.
 
          At Bethel, we want to “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” as Paul encourages (Ephesians 6:18). This is why we pray individually for one another, and why, after Sunday mornings, we have people available for anyone who desires prayer. It is also why we have a prayer ministry that meets mid-week in the church’s Prayer Room to welcome people who feel a special need for God’s healing touch.
 
          (As a side note, some have wondered why we don’t use the Prayer Room for prayer ministry after Sunday services.  Simply put, the prayer team believes the front of the sanctuary is more convenient and private on a day when there are a lot of people milling around the foyer area.)
 
         Let’s keep on praying for one another. It is a key ingredient for having a loving and vibrant church. And please know that I’ll be praying for you.
                                                                                                                         --Pastor Tom

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