Word of the Day (7-22-11)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Friday July 22, 2011

The word of the day comes a little different today.

On Wednesday Bishop Charles H. Doom Jr brought up the fact that we are going into vacation month at our church, Southern Baptist Church Praise and Worship Center, here in Washington DC. Right before the cheers started, he got serious and asked the question “how many people have a prayer partner?” The majority of the congregation for bible study didn’t raise their hands. He stated the necessity of having a prayer partner especially knowing that rather than having the normal full week of ministry activities as we would, we will only meet for one service on Sunday at an early schedule. Bishop mentioned that this can become an opening/a doorway for the devil to enter because of all the free time we have (though ministry work should still be taking place) and that he didn’t want the devil to get any access to us so it was imperative that we have a prayer partner (someone we know is walking this Christian walk right and with us so that we can be accountable to).  

What really made me think was when two of my good friends at church after service ganged up on me jokingly saying “Gamal forgot about us. He used to call at hours of the day to pray but he hasn’t lately.” Now we still talk all the time but what I realized they were talking about was that regularly I would call just to pray then hang up or if I couldn’t get them, I would leave a prayer on their voicemail and while we speak and speak often, fellowship can’t replace the time spent building up one another in prayer. This has convicted me to relook at those who I called just to pray with and lift them up in prayer. Why is this significant? Because we don’t realize how many people are touched by the things we believe are going unnoticed. When I called everyday to pray with people, sometimes people wouldn’t answer their phone or they complained I called too early, too late, while they were at work, busy, etc and so it dropped off when that should have been more motivation to continue. I prayed and hoped one day someone would call me just to pray with me the way people stay on my mind for prayer but it didn’t happen. But hearing my friends joke made me realize (though I should have already known) just how much affect the little things have on people even when they don’t say anything.

Today and going forward I want you to call people (family/friends/coworkers/etc) and lift them up in prayer. Make a list of people who the Lord leads you to have as a regular prayer partner and take initiative to pray with them even if it is not reciprocal right away. Fellowships are great and encouraged but let us not forget to look at those saved in our lives: parents, siblings, cousins, friends not just by those titles but as brothers and sisters in Christ who need prayer and strength as well.

So as we close, let us close in prayer.

Father God, we come before you to say thank you. Thank You for continually being the good God that you are and bringing to our attention the things that You desire in Your heart for us to do to carry out Your will. Thank You for reminding us of the necessity to pray and pray one with another. As we stand before You we ask forgiveness of sins that we may be right in Your sight so that our prayer may not be hindered. We want to lift up one another on this Word of the Day family who continue to meet here on our assigned days to grow together, learn together, be encouraged together and be more like You together.  We lift up any sin that may be among us: lust, temptation, anger, unforgiveness, hatred, jealousy, envy, selfishness, pride, greed, lack of faith, disobedience to You and Your Word, etc. Keep everyone of us and let us not take this opportunity lightly, this great opportunity that You ordained to bring us together weekly. Keep our families, keep our jobs, keep our health, keep our finances, keep our minds, keep our emotions, keep our relationship with one another and most importantly, with You intact. We love You and believe that our prayer has already been answered in the precious, wonderful, soul keeping, soul delivering, soul restoring, soul preserving name of Jesus the Christ we pray…amen.

Enjoy your weekend!

Have a wonderful, blessed, productive, stress free day!