Practice what you preach…
Prayer. Its been a huge part of ministry here in India.
So much so that I began to struggle with it, in a matter of a few days.
As we were doing our drive-thru praying I found myself distracted and unable to form any type of complete sentence. I battled for days with how to pray for someone who believes in both God and yet prays to idols too.
I would be laying my hands on someone, attempting my best to pray blessings over them and my words would fail me. Prayer anxiety snuck back up and took my voice. I was beginning to get frustrated with myself. I knew that as long as I kept pushing through, and praying anyways that God would still use those prayers. It did not change the fact that I felt like my discombobulated prayers were useless. I wanted my prayers to be powerful to these people. I wanted them to feel Gods presence and know his love.
Naturally I took my public prayers struggles to The Lord. (Just me and him)
He began to speak to me on prayer, telling me prayer was just simple conversation with him, my father, my friend.
He questioned me on why I was making it so complicated.
Honestly I didn’t know I was making it so complicated. After a few days of praying about this myself, he began to reveal scripture after scripture on prayer. He reminded me that all request and blessings are welcomed, that I can talk to him whenever, wherever. He told me that he will answer all these prayers according to his will, that I should not lose heart but pray without ceasing. Pray fervently. Knock and keep on knocking.
Heading into week 2 of ministry here God began to grow me in this. I began to pray with more confidence, more boldness and with much passion. I actually started liking it (I wouldn’t say love yet) I could feel myself getting excited during our drive-thru prayer sessions, and I really just started to all together embrace it.
So, then tonight happened.
I had already told my team I would share a message tonight.
(committed, no turning back now)
My message on prayer.
We arrived at our destined village. We split up into two smaller teams Nate, Kelsey and I headed out with the Village Pastor and our translator to start the drive-thru prayers. Our first few houses were the typical prayers for aches and pains, financial provision and blessings. As we started to enter the yard of a sweet woman with sincere eyes and a gentle smile I couldn’t have prepared myself for what happened next, as I turned the corner of the house and entered the ‘patio’ I was greeted by the tender love and gentle touch of a 100 year old God fearing woman. She wasted no time as she wrapped her frail hands around mine beginning to pour out prayers and blessings over me. (OVER, ME) Wasn’t I suppose to be praying over her? Her prayers lasted minutes and with every passing second a piece of my heart melted. I stood there in awe, in awe of her, in awe of God and in awe of the true power of prayer. (Crazy right, God – just showing me how it’s all done.) She eventually stopped (after her daughter made her) and then she allowed our prayers to shower her and her daughter. I breathed in deep every second of this precious moment in time.
Once our prayers were over, she grabbed her bible and began to pray over all three of us this time.
100 years old and still professing Gods love.
I think we all need a little bit of that spirit in us.
My heart was full as I walked away.
Along the way to our next house I was greeted by a sweet girl with a messy braid and a scar on her left cheek. Her smile was infectious, her eyes were light and bright. She quickly grabbed my hand and became my precious friend and sidekick. She traveled with us from house to house, and I soon realized I wasn’t just in the presence of just another average kid, It was during a prayer when I noticed she was not just holding my hand, but in fact also praying along with us. So the next house we went to I encouraged her to also lay hands. House to house, person to person she stood by my side, laying hands on those in need and praying with fierceness. After each prayer she would squeeze my hand, look up at me with those eyes and smile.
My sweet side kick was no average kid at all. She was a prayer warrior. A 9 year old prayer warrior.
God was blessing me.
God was showing me just how simple prayer can be, and he was teaching me through two completely opposite ends of the spectrum.
Praying with the fierceness of a child, and praying fervently,
giving your whole heart even when your 100 years old.
As I sat on the stage tonight, getting ready for my turn to speak.
I felt God telling me to pray for these people at the end of my message.
Im sorry God… WHAT?? You want me to pray for these people,
all of them, at once, on stage, with a translator, in front of my team….??? No, thank you…
Then I heard it, are you not preaching on praying.
Courtney, practice what you preach.
I stood up (inwardly shaking my head)
Spoke my message on prayer.
The message that not only God laid on my heart,
but the message that he has been growing me in for the last week.
As I was closing up, I pushed the microphone away and ask Pastor K if he would translate my prayer to them.
(not something we typically do – usually the local Pastor prays)
He agreed, I then asked him to have each of them lay a hand on a fellow brother or sister.
This was obviously not normal for them, as I began to pray I could feel not my words, but Gods words pouring out of me.
Its a surreal feeling, I felt nothing but joy as I was praying for these people.
No fear or anxiety of praying in public, just joy.
My heart was full.
Service was over.
I was able to pray over my sweet prayer warrior before we left, and of course steal two hugs. Her smile will forever be burned in my soul, and the thought of seeing her in heaven one day where no language will stand in the way, made my heart smile.
As I drove away, I couldn’t help but reflect on the work that God is doing not only in each passing country but in me. Im speechless. Speechless with a grin on my face.
