I'm Praying for Me

Weekly Word Decades ago, I embraced what I believed to my calling to be an intercessor. Back then there were suggested formats to help focus one’s prayer. Among these were ACTS — adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or PRAY which stands for praise, repent, ask, and yield. One of my favorites is definitely PUSH which is not a template but a reminder: pray until something happens. I still do that. The trouble is one can be so schooled into praying for others we forget one important person — ourselves. In fact, we may even think we are doing a great job praying for the needs of the world and then basking in the afterglow of time in God’s presence. Or maybe, praying for ourselves evoke feelings of selfishness because we know there are people with worse problems who have no prayer support. Whatever the reason, we skimp on persistent personal petitions. Using the Psalms as our example, it is safe to say there are more specific and very personal prayers in this portion of scripture than anywhere else in the Bible. Praying for ourselves forces introspection, and by God’s grace, complete honesty. We are given insight into who and where we are, and by the Holy Spirit, are able to pray according to God’s perfect will for our individual lives. Being intercessors does not make us immune to the contaminants of the world. And it is easy to “lose our shine” if we are not taking deliberate steps to submit to the washing of the Word and the gentle counsel of the Lord to us, as we talk with him. The old spiritual “It's me, it's me oh Lord/ Standing in the need of prayer” packs a powerful truth. We will never be as effective as we can be until we stand in the place of prayer, often, on our own behalf and PUSH. It is not selfishness, just good sense to bind up our wounds before we engage in healing the world. When was the last time you prayed a “no holds barred” prayer for you?