Can you, should you, pray for spiritual gifts?
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Imagine; reading the Bible gave me some answers to my question. It also instigated more questions and curiosity. Knowing the verse from 1 Corinthians that relates the Church to the body of Christ is a good start; I understand that Christians are not meant to be identical robots. Yet, I failed to seek an understanding beyond obvious personality differences. A better start would have been to continue reading God’s word and pray on understanding our individual roles as part of this great body. 1 Peter 4:10 offers guidance.
Every Christian has at least one Spiritual Gift.
Growing up in the Southern Baptist Church, I learned a great deal about the Be-Attitudes, God’s grace and love, and the consequences of ignoring or denying the Lord. I have always enjoyed church. I love the choir, the hymns, the sermon and the pews. Never have I questioned if there was more to Christianity than what I’d been taught by my nicely dressed, cowboy boot wearing preacher. Well, now that I am 26, having been living away from home since 17, finding my own church family as I’ve moved, and with 44 other Christians on the World Race, I find myself asking questions.
Not the “do I really believe this?� type, but the “is there more to it? What else can I learn?� These 2 months on the race have given me time and enthusiasm for reading my Bible. I read stories never for the first time. I found scripture reference to familiar teachings. I am discovering God on my own. Giving full credit to my circumstances on the Race may be an overstatement. I have a mother at home who is an Amazing Christian woman. She reads and reads and reads. She teaches Sunday School, attends church services, volunteers to lead Bible Study at a Nursing Home and still has energy to conduct herself in a righteous, graceful, humble manner. However, I’m the one reading, contemplating, fellowshipping, questioning, praying and listening. I am gleaning information from other Racers, the plethora of books we are sharing, and the life experiences.
My newest question was prompted by emotion. During a discussion I heard someone say they were praying for a particular spiritual gift. Unsure why this didn’t sit well with me, I jumped into self reflection. The discomfort stemmed from me being appalled by the gesture. Partly, I attribute this emotional response to lack of knowledge, uncertainty and a displeasure for misguided pride. No reason to be bad or confused while I such informational resources at my convenience. I first went to the index to research scripture. Then I talked with a squad leader. From there I borrowed a book, The Art of Listening Prayer (that is a month long devotional I’m still working on). Then I got up the courage to show my vulnerability in the subject and asked a few racers whose knowledge and experience I really respect and trust.
Little did I know that so many others debate this same question, “Can or should we pray for certain spiritual gifts?� Last night during dinner I intended to read and pray about gifts. Instead, I took up the invitation to join a few others. As I took my spot in the rocking chair I was unaware of the discussion that would follow. For the next 2.5 hours, four of us sat talking, reading, discussing Biblical principles, interpretations and applications. Not surprising, God has used this month’s community living to encourage curiosities, develop relationships, and expand understandings.
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loving my time with Grace and Dania who aren’t on my team…(yet)
