Effective prayer

​I spent last weekend overseeing the ‘prayer room’ at a youth conference. I’ve done this once before and this time was very different from the last. But each time, I feel like I was more blessed than those who came in for prayer.
It is an odd thing in our busy lives to devote a weekend to prayer. I approach it with a hesitancy mostly because I’m afraid I won’t be equipped for the prayers that are required of me. But each time I hear someone’s story, I’m so moved to stand in the gap for them and I can’t believe I would have ever considered not being there.
What I’ve learned about youth this weekend is that they don’t feel like they are doing enough or being enough for God. Which is heartbreaking. What pressure they feel! The God I serve loves each and everyone of them exactly where they are at, but somehow what they hear is – do more. It seems our busy world is sending the wrong message. I pray for them to do less and be still more – but even that feels like a requirement to them – something else to fit into their busy schedule.
I also learned that youth aren’t the only people I can pray with. I had just as many adults come in for prayer as youth. It is such a privilege to pray for their weighty concerns. And sometimes I really don’t have the words, but that’s ok too. Standing in the gap isn’t only about talking.
Which is the other thing I learned. I had someone come in and while I believed it was my duty to approach him and ask if he wanted me to pray with him, something inside of me said no, that’s not what he needs. So we began talking and I told him about the youth that had visited the day before. And I believe that impacted him more than any prayer I could have offered. So for him, standing in the gap meant telling him a story.
I love that. Because I love to tell stories. I hope this story has enriched your life today. Take some time to pray for someone or the youth I mentioned. And if you’re willing to tell me your story that needs prayer – I’ll be sure to stand in the gap for you as well.
               “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16