Prayer First
I don’t know if you are like me or not, but I like to help people. In fact, you could say that I have a "fix it" mentality. I cannot tell you if this mindset is from having an “A” type personality or from me being an American. I wonder if the latter has something to do with my thinking, because as I was teaching my connect group one Sunday morning, a similar subject was mentioned in class.
A medical doctor who goes to Brazil on mission trips, stated that by his ovservation, he has noticed that while in Brazil and when something goes awry, the Americans will always resort to a meeting of the minds, and will try to fix the problem immediately without regard to prayer. However, the Brazilians will automatically gather together and began to pray.
When he spoke about the scenario, I was a little convicted. I had to ask myself, “Do I do the same?” I know I don’t always resort to prayer first. I too have spent hours wringing my hands and being anxious about a situation. I have tried to come up with a so call “fix it” plan for people who are obviously in need of a miracle.
However, I am beginning to realize that some things and some people cannot be fixed over night. It maybe a process that someone has to walk through before the situation may change or seen in a different light. It is amazing that we, in ministry, forget to do what the Scripture tells us to do first, and that is to pray. Let’s take Paul advice and remember the Lord is at hand.
We can resort to His way to “fix” the situation or the person. If He doesn’t intervene in a miraculous way, He will instill in us the creative mind to resolve any situation. Therefore, instead of seeing prayer as the last resort, let’s make it our first. We should access the Creator of the Universe first.
What a novel idea! Duh! This is advice I must heed to myself.
Do I try to fix people or a situation before or more than I pray?
Is prayer my first resort?
Philippians 4:5b–7
“The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)
