I WILL SAY A PRAYER
How many of you have uttered the words, “I will say a prayer for you?” I know I have said that many times, and I try to stop whatever I am doing at the time, and say a prayer. I don’t want to get busy and forget to pray for someone after I have said I would. But these are prayers said in private. These are words whispered at night when I go to bed. I have never prayed in front of anyone.
One of the first things I learned when I became President of our local woman’s club, was to always ask the person you had in mind to perform a task. If you wanted someone to lead the Pledge of Allegiance To The Flag, then you should ask them before the meeting to make sure they were fine with that. However, when Bertha became President a couple years later, she didn’t get that memo. At the beginning of the meeting, we will have a Thought For The Day, have prayer, and then eat a light meal before the “real” meeting starts. Bertha said, “Tania, will you lead us in prayer?” I was thrown for a loop, I stammered, NO! I just froze.
Typing is one thing, but talking is completely different. I had a hot spot on my Thyroid. I know you are thinking what does this have to do with prayer. The doctors decided that my over active hot spot would have to be radiated. The plan was to “kill” the hot spot and leave the rest of my thyroid alone. That is not what happened. Now I have to take thyroid medicine daily. One of the symptoms of thyroid issues has to do with memory and words. I can be talking to you and need to say the word telephone. I can tell you that you can make calls with this object, that you talk to people through it, but the word “telephone” will not come to mind. This is extremely uncomfortable when you are talking to anyone, you feel like an idiot. So saying a prayer, that is not one that has been memorized, is terrifying for me.
In a devotional this week, a lady was talking about someone being at her home do some odd jobs. After talking to this young man, she felt the uncomfortable nudge from the Lord to ask the young man if she could pray for him. He responded yes! She fought down the uncomfortable feeling, and did what she felt was prompted. In the end the young man was blessed, but so was she.
I am still working on my prayer life. I talk to the Lord as I would my father, my best friend, and my confidante. He knows me, and I am striving to know him. I ask for him to open my eyes and my heart. And I ask what I can do for him, what would please him.
Maybe in the future, I will be able to say a prayer out loud. But, until then, I will say a prayer for you in private.
I hope you have a blessed day.
Keep being brave, Tania and gurlz. Just remember that those standing in need of intercession aren’t judging your eloquence; in fact, hearing your authentic words to the Father on our behalf encourages us like little else can! I have no remembrance of the person who voiced “the worst” prayer over me, but I have dozens of memories of those who didn’t shrink back but bravely stood in the gap for me when I needed their strength. Let’s keep functioning in our giftedness while faithfully exercising those areas that we’d rather not but need it – spiritually and physically! PS: I, too, am on thyroid supplement, and though I’ve experienced the symptom you described, I had never paired it with my deficiency – thanks for the tip!!
Thank you for your honesty and openness as you shared about praying aloud. I am a Ladies Bible Study facilitator in my church, as well as a Sunday School Teacher for young adult couples, so I am comfortable praying aloud. However, your post was a good reminder to me to be sure to ask ahead of time before calling on someone to pray in either of those groups. I have just been introduced to your blog recently, but I am really enjoying it! Blessings to you this Sunday…..
Thanks for this inspiration. I feel intimidated by folks who have such eloquent, “perfect” prayers where mine just kind of ramble and I just talk to God, as you said, like a friend. Guess there is no “perfect” prayer. God listens to all who come to him.
Thank you once again for a very inspiring Sunday post. Your candor and honesty is what all of us love about you. Praying publicly is a struggle for most of us it seems. God looks at the attitude of our hearts anyway and our conversations with Him is what is important, be it public or private. You honor Him in so many ways with all of your other talents. You are a blessing.
Thank you Tania for your honesty. My husband doesn’t like to pray out loud. We always take turns (including our teenagers) saying a prayer before we eat so this gives him a little practice. What better practice to have…,in front of your family. He doesn’t have a hot spot and will not pray out loud in public but that is okay because “God knows his heart”. I said a prayer for you that God would give you Christ confidence and the words to say if you ever have to pray unexpectedly. Enjoy your Sunday. ~Lisa~
When I went to work for a religious nonprofit I had to pray in front of the entire organization and I was petrified. God got me through it and after that it was a little (emphasis on little) easier. God is so good and faithful. I am so grateful He is patient with and understands us. Thank you, Tania, for again touching everyone who has been asked to pray publicly. I will pray for you and so happy I found your blog! Have a blessed day!
Thank you for this lovely post!
I love this post! I feel the same way… I can type all day but if asked to speak or pray (which I have also been put on the spot to do in church at a choir rehearsal and I also froze up in shock and disbelief that I was even asked at such an impromptu time) in public it just doesn’t go well. I also have a hard time finding the words that I want to use, they’re on the tip of my tongue but they just don’t come out. And lastly, I too try to pray for someone right on the spot so that I won’t forget. I hate to tell a person that I will pray for them then I don’t. So happy to know that I’m not alone in this. ? Be blessed!
I too have difficult praying in front of a group. Fine if only a couple but a large group!!!!! Several years ago our church women’s group I had to open with prayer. It was hard and always felt I didn’t do good. Learned the lesson it was a heartfelt response not a “good job” that was pleasing to God.
Thank you for sharing with us gurls.
Love your blog here in Perth Western Australia. I too have thyroid problems. I’ve had half of mine out. My memory is the same.
Love you fashion. I look everyday. It’s winter here but I’m getting ideas from you for Summer.