The Impact of Prayer & Community | EP 135

Welcome to another episode of I Refresh. I have with me Keri Kittinger, Veronica Scott, and I'm Cheryl Clare. And we are talking about prayer and all things prayer. I love prayer. I grew up in a home where from about three years old and up, it was a home of prayer. I don't remember going through something difficult without my parents praying for me. Now, we did not have a perfect home. I don't want people to think, oh, it must be nice. You had everything handed to you in a silver platter. There was difficulty, but I always knew if I didn't feel well, if I was struggling in something, my parents would pray for me. My Sunday school teacher would pray for me. My youth pastor would pray for me. And so I love seeing Jesus in the Gospels, all throughout the Gospels. He prayed for countless people to be healed, countless people to be delivered. And he did it on the spot. So what do you ladies think? Sometimes when I get asked to pray for somebody, I can get forgetful. You can think, oh, yes, I'll remember that. I'll pray for you. Oh, yes. I'm so happy. Right. Have you ever experienced that before? Yes. And I have found it's best to pray right that minute. Absolutely. For two reasons. One is because if they are asking for prayer, they need it right then. So, you know, I think it's important that we stop what we're doing and make them feel like they are the priority. Yes. And that we are going to go before the Lord with them on their behalf. Yes. Yes. The other factor of it is if I don't do it right then, I might forget. And not intentionally, but I get busy. And later, I'm like, oh, Lord, I'm so sorry. And so it's easier just to know that right that minute, I have gone to the Father with them on their behalf. Yes. Now, He might remind me later, continue to pray for this one. And I will continue to pray. But I agree. Yeah, sure, I'll pray for you. And then if I'm asking you for prayer and you say, I'll pray for you, I'm going to have that question, is she really going to pray for me? Because she didn't. And I don't want anyone to feel like their needs are not important enough for my time to stop and pray. Yeah, that is so good, Veronica. I think it's being practical, too, is what is it with your—everybody's got a different personality. Now, I've got now in my notes, sometimes I can put it on my phone. I can type something up, or there's a reminder part there, too. Those are options that help me. But then I also, with our prayer team, we actually have a thing called GroupMe, And when someone shared a prayer request and it's timely, it was like I can put it out there. So I know that if I, you know, when I have a moment, I want to pray because it just depends on the situation. There's some times where it's not an environment where you could pray with them or they're not comfortable being out in public because there's times where... you know, it's like you feel like there's not a place that's safe to go and pray with them right on this point. And so it's not a condemnation. It's like, okay, when I get to a certain point, and I'm asking them, I've also had it to where I will ask the Holy Spirit, bring it to my remembrance. Yes, that's good, Cheryl. That's really good. The other side, if you do forget, because it was a timely prayer request, is I don't want to feel condemned and I really don't want to miss it. And finding what those little things are that help your personality, writing it down. I started a prayer journal and I'm like, oh, that's so overwhelming. So I walked away from it and I'm like, oh, I need to get back to that because I want to go back to the things that people have asked me for prayer about. And it helps me when I write it down. I've done it on my calendar, my daily calendar, writing a name to trigger my memory to make sure that I'm praying for someone. Yeah. That's good. That is such a good point. And I just was reflecting on what you said about you grew up with parents that taught you to pray. I did not. My parents did not pray. My parents didn't teach me to pray. But I had extended family members that prayed. And so I learned from my time with them. And they also did something that I look back, and I just am so grateful. They took me to church. My parents didn't take me to church, but my family members— took me to church. That's beautiful, Veronica. You know, there are people out there that may not have grown up in a Christian family, but that doesn't mean that you can't learn to pray and that the Bible is not true, that follow the Lord's prayer, start there, and then your prayer life will grow. Yes. As you get into prayer, you'll learn. And then, like you said in another episode, find those people that you are around that like to pray. Yes. And ask them to help you. And, you know, people that love to pray, love to share. Yes. That's so true. And I like how you said that because even I know a lot of us who grew up in church or obviously active in church now, we think, okay, I went on Sunday morning and there we go, I'm done. But really, don't you think prayer is, a lot of it is in small group. And so we all have houses where we just go into the garage, shut the garage, go into our houses. And the community aspect of prayer, I think, gets lost in our busyness. And so taking that time to really even say, I need to be in a small group of some sort, whether it's at iRefresh, whether that's in a Bible study or in a neighborhood prayer time or just gathering friends together. We recently had a friend that was diagnosed with something very grave. And another friend said. just put out, said, hey, who can come to my house Thursday night? And we're going to, we want to pray for this couple. I thought, there we go. Because it was big enough that we thought we want them to know how much we love them and want to cover them in prayer. So instead of just saying, yes, we'll pray, she just got the invitation out. And do you know every, there were about, I would say there was probably 15 of us that within 48 hours, we were gathered in the home and praying for this couple. So the power of community in prayer, I think, is beautiful. You know, Carrie, that's so important, too, is what it does to change us as we're focused on someone, but we learn from that. You know, Veronica, you and I have spoken before we were recording, too, about how important it is for sometimes people to hear our prayers. Right. Right. And I think that, you know, that is a faith building. You know, what does the word say? Faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of God. So if we're going to pray for somebody, we are helping them to hear the prayer that helps build their faith. Yes. It also, like your example, it helped that couple to know that they're not in this battle alone. Absolutely. These people that took the time to come to pray for them, they're walking through this with them. Yes. And I think that's so valuable. And something, like you pointed out, we miss today. A lot of, you know, with our busyness and like you said, with the way our society is— You know, we go to work, we pull in the garage, we shut the door, we go in, we have dinner, we start all over the next day. Yes. We just don't have those. I grew up down in the southern part of the United States, and we used to sit on the front porch at night. We don't do that anymore. Everybody has a back porch now. Everybody has a back porch. Yes. And so we would have conversations with neighbors in the evening, in the cool of the evening, because we were out in the front yard. That's not the way anymore. So what a great example of how just technology, a simple little text or an email that says, I'm willing to host, who can come? Absolutely. It's a great idea. What was powerful about that night is hearing people's prayers out loud. And almost, you've heard the analogy maybe of someone describing an elephant, right? So this elephant is so big. And so someone's describing the trunk. Someone's describing the tail. So in that community of prayer, God is so big. And so coming together to have the mind of Christ, we were able to each declare something different. And it was almost like this popcorn effect of us praying together rather than it would have been fine if just I came and prayed. But or just you came and prayed. But the power in agreement where two or three are gathered together in my name, Jesus said. I mean, and so, yes, we can pray by ourselves. But there's just it was just this beautiful patchwork quilt. Yes. And comforter to this person of prayer and hearing all the different aspects of what Jesus was sharing through our prayers with her. And I love that because the rest of that scripture says, I am there in the midst. Amen. And what great thought that, you know, when two or more come together and they're praying, Jesus is in the room. Amen, Brenda. That's beautiful. That's beautiful. Such a great reminder. Yeah. And, you know, we grow even as we're reaching out and praying for someone else. We truly, I do. I've grown. I think my spiritual work with the Lord has been so different because I've spent time praying with other women. And it's interesting. The more you do, you get to learn them spiritually. There's just a place where you love the gifts that we all pray a little bit differently, like you mentioned, Carrie, is everybody brings something because... Veronica has always talked about you bring your supply and you can define that. But I think what's great is I don't want to mimic other people. And I think sometimes people think, well, I need to listen to mimic you. It's just to learn from you and pitch off of that because God loves your personality. He made you a certain way. That's good, Cheryl. And it's about you and your personality, who you are, and then using the gifts God has within you as you pray. Yes. It's what you do will make a change in someone else as you begin to pray for other people. It is such a significant thing that's so unseen and that I believe that our lives are always changed when we begin to pray together with each other. Yes, yes. And that's such a good point because also the privilege. Because, you know, what we're doing is we're going before the Father on the behalf of the person with the need. Yes. What a privilege to be trusted and to be a part of their answer. Because it's not about who you are, and it's not about, oh, Carrie, you've got to pray for me because you can do it. It's that you're willing to go to the Lord on my behalf to lift up my need. That's the greatest gift. Yes. And it's such a reward, like you said, when you see the answer. Then you get to rejoice with them. Absolutely. And the privilege was you got to be part of it. Absolutely. Have you ever met someone and they enjoy and their gifting is to encourage others, their gifting is to give to others, but when they have a need, they have a hard time receiving? And it's not necessarily pride. It's almost that... They want to be the one giving. And so that's a good thing. But there are times that givers need to learn how to receive. And I feel that way in prayer because, you know, being a woman of prayer, and, of course, you desire to pray for people and encourage people. But there are times that I need that. I need somebody praying for me. I need encouragement. So it's good to have a friend that you can pick up that phone. You can text them and say, do you have a minute? Yes. Yes. And maybe if they don't right then, they're going to call you back. But I think it's important to have a few people in your lives that you can do that SOS call with. Have y'all ever had to do that? Oh, absolutely. And I think that, you know, looking at the Bible, Jesus had 12 disciples. That is so good. He didn't just have one. Right. And I think that's such an important example for us. Surround yourself with people that know how to pray, like to pray, want to pray, because we all have those seasons in life where we need prayer. Yeah. And you need to have somebody to call. And, you know, never—not one time in the Bible does He call us to be an island. All unto ourselves. That is so true, Rhonda. He tells us to surround ourselves with like-minded, with other believers, that we are to fellowship together. That's all part of that equation of having a community of like-minded people that know how to pray. Yes. So when it's your turn, then you have somebody to call. Yeah. Isn't that good, though? I'm thinking when you're saying that about Peter, he was in jail. And there was a group of people that were gathered together, praying for him to be released. Right. I think it's so comical, you know, the story. I'm not sure where it's referenced. I'll have to look that up. how when he went to the door of where they were praying i know that the young girl just was like shut the door like that's can't be peter because we're praying over here for you and i just think you know we come and expect it and like there's your doesn't she go back and say i think peter shut the door they're like well go get them Right. Yes. But I think that's God's humor, too. Exactly. You know, it says that the prayers that we pray are effective. Oh, sure. And when you see that God actually answers them, you know, sometimes when he does, like suddenly you're like, thank you, Jesus. Exactly. Because sometimes, like you've mentioned before, like you're waiting a long time for prayers. Those moments like that are such an encouragement where we're really joy. They really are. Everyone. So true. So true. And such an important part of understanding that sometimes we get the privilege of seeing the answer, but that doesn't mean every time we need an answer. We have to go to Him in faith and in trust that He hears us and He answers us. And sometimes we might not see the answer, but we know that He's working on behalf of what we've requested. And think about how prayer— we see it as I'm praying for my, like, oh, for instance, I'm praying for my children. But really the way, if I'm praying for my children, I am also praying for their children and their children and their children, that whole, that generational line. And so even when you said, sometimes we don't see our prayers being answered. David didn't see the building of the tabernacle, even though he was the one that prayed that in, had the plans. gave the charge to Solomon, but it was for, you know, God said, hey, no, I want that to happen, but it's not going to be you that's going to build it. It's going to be your son. And so I wonder if sometimes when we get frustrated with unanswered prayer, quote unquote unanswered prayer, that, you know, the Lord's timing is perfect. And so we have to remember we're not, it's not just about the here and the now. It's about the future generations as well. Right. That's so good. Yes. And I think that, too, we have to understand if we only pray based on what we see, then how can we really pray out God's will? Because prayer is praying through God's will. And sometimes His ways are higher than our ways. He knows things we don't know. And so when we enter into prayer, we're connecting with heaven for heaven's answer to not our answer. Oh, that's so good. And so I think that's also part of that timeframe is that we've, you know, like you said earlier, God sees the whole picture. We just see our tunnel vision. So we're like, well, Lord, you know, why aren't you taking care of this? And if he could talk to us in the moment, I feel like he'd say, I got this. Just keep doing your part. I'm doing the rest. Yes. And I like how you said that, Veronica, doing your part. Because really, the body of Christ as a whole, it's not just about me praying in my little closet. That's important. But the power of prayer and prayer. Who knows even just the atmosphere that my prayers are affecting, the atmosphere that someone's prayers that I don't even know down the road. So to even know, like, Lord, I trust that there are multitudes praying. We hear the bad news all the time on the news, right? We hear the bad report. But there are... I wonder, we want heaven's report. Oh, yes. And that's what prayer is, is trusting that there's something that's happening in the atmosphere of heaven that we're bringing to earth when we pray. So important, which that tells us that in the Lord's Prayer. Yes. Let it be on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Right. And you're right. That's what we're doing. We're calling down heaven. to the earth realm. Yes. And we're using the Lord's, the Word of God. That's scriptural for us to do that. Amen. Amen. Now, Veronica, that's so good. You know, I think when we know that we're wanting to pray God's will, and maybe you don't know God's will in a certain circumstance. Now, we have some resources on our website at irefresh.net. It's called Praying Scriptures. Of course. And there are a lot of topics out there, and it's a go-to because, honestly, on the fly, sometimes there's scripture. I'm like, I can't think of a scripture. But I know that the power of praying the Word of God, that the Lord says that He will complete the Word He's spoken over them. So I want to pray His Word. Amen. And so that's a starting point. There's a lot of other resources out there, but ours right now is really easy to go out there and look at topics. And you can begin to learn, if you've never done it before, that it is so fun when you begin to—and say them out loud. Oh, absolutely. When you begin to say the scriptures out loud. Yes, yes. There's something that I don't know about you, but I sense like a faith rise in me. Because sometimes I'm walking out of discouragement, defeat, or just that glow me. Because like you said, if someone's got a bad report, I'm like, we've got to do warfare. And those scriptures sometimes are the beginning of praying through for the victory. So go to iRefresh.net and see how it can help you.