House of Prayer: Part III - June 18, 2009

 

Jesus said, “My house will be called a house of prayer.” (Luke 19:46)

 

Over the past two weeks I have talked about ideas of re-visioning the way we pray to become a “house of prayer.” I have talked a bit about how we pray and what prevents us from praying or becoming a people of prayer. This week I want to spend more time reflecting on the who are we praying for.

Paul wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all in authority.” (I Tim 2:1-2a)

Well, that doesn't really narrow it down very much, when we read pray for “everyone.” But Paul does includes specifics in regards to those in power. Plus, we know that Jesus told us to pray for those that persecute us. So, from a quick glimpse in scripture, it would seem the answer to “who we should be praying for” is simple. Like Paul says, “everyone.”

So, how do we even begin to pray for everyone? Well, I think we begin by again doing what Reggie McNeal talks about, and pray for our community. As I share some of this idea of praying for our community I want you to know that some of it is already taking place, and some of it may not yet be happening. However, I believe that if we begin to do these things, we may soon see that we could become “houses of prayer” in Brookings.

So, lets start with those in authority. We should be praying for the mayor and city council. In this economic down turn they will face many difficult challenges. They will need wisdom and discernment to do what is best. We need to pray for law enforcement and emergency services. These are the people that help to maintain the peace, safety and quality of the lives we enjoy. And sometime they even put their own lives on the line for others. There are judges and court officials that ensure that justice prevails. They serve unnoticed by most and those that they see, often show contempt for them doing their jobs well.

Perhaps a second kind of authority would be those who provide employment or housing. We should pray for each and every business. They provide goods or services and employ most of the town. In an economic down turn they have many difficult decisions to make. They need support and wisdom to do what is best. The banks that hold our mortgages and the landlords that collect our rent, make where we live and work possible. There are also those that are self employed and those that run farms. They too contribute to the community.

We need to also include those that are entrusted with our youth. We should be praying for daycare providers, boys and girls club, GAP, babysitters and all that care for the safety and well being of our children as we work. We need to pray fro our schools, preschools, elementary, middle, & high school, as well as SDSU. For all the staff that teach, oversee and maintain the quality of educations to help our children to grow and learn for tomorrow.

We likewise, should pray for the health care industry, social services, service organizations, charities, non profits, churches, and every individual and family in Brookings. The list can go on and on of who we should be praying for. But we should be praying for “everyone.”

I invite you to join me over this summer and the months ahead to find ways that you can pray for this community in which God has placed you. Perhaps, if we like Nineveh were to pray from the greatest to the least, we would all know and see God do great and mighty things in and through us. So, this is a call to prayer with out ceasing, to become a people of prayer, and to build houses of prayer.

Just: pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.