Month: November 2021

NCFI Cares: The Power of Intercessory Prayer

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Amazement seized them all, and they glorified God

Luke 4:26

In Luke 5:17-20, we read about the determination of a man’s friends to bring him to Jesus. The man is paralyzed, and his friends are trying to bring him to Jesus for healing. Jesus is in a house, but there are too many people. Everyone is crowded around the doors and windows and the friends are unable to bring the man to Jesus. They do not give up. Instead, they climb on the roof, cut out a large hole, and lower the paralyzed man into the house to Jesus. Jesus heals the man of his sins and his paralysis.

            What has struck me as amazing is the determination of the man’s friends. I wonder how far they carried him? Was it down the road? across town? or through the countryside. Just, so that their friend could possibly be healed?  Also, when they were confronted with obstacles to seeing Jesus, they climbed to the roof (carrying the man), cut a large hole in the roof (large enough for the man to fit through), and then lowered the man into where Jesus was sitting. These are strong, determined friends.

            Yet, the friends’ determination wasn’t just physical strength needed for the journey, nor creating an access to Jesus. Their determination is also in their faith. They believed that Jesus would heal their friend! They didn’t doubt, nor sway in their determination. Their belief was so assured that they overcame all obstacles.

            Jesus took notice, Jesus seeing their (friends) faith, he healed their friend. Notice, it was not the man’s faith, nor his determination. Instead, Jesus saw the friends’ faith. This is the power of intercessory prayer—belief. Belief that God can do anything for our friends, our families, and for our patients. The person we pray for doesn’t need to believe. We believe for them and are determined to show them Jesus.

            When we are determined in prayer and belief, we witness the hand of God touch lives.  Amazingly, the man was forgiven and healed, and the crowd was amazed and glorified God. So much was accomplished. All because of the determination and faith of a few friends.

            Here is a challenge—commit to pray for one person every day for 30 days and see all that God does through your faith and determination.

NCFI Cares: Doing Good to Our Faith Family

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While we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Galatians 6:10

As nurses and midwives, we have been doing a tremendous amount of good during the pandemic: long hours and multiple shifts, too many patients who are very ill, increased time away from family, and others.  In Galatians 6:10, Paul instructs us to continue to do good to all people, especially those of the family of faith!  I love this reminder. Our priority in doing good is towards our fellow Christians, brothers and sisters of the faith. 

Some of suggested ways of “doing good” to one another are found in the previous verses:

-gently restore someone discovered in sin (verse 1)

-carry one another’s burdens (verse 2)

-don’t compare one’s work with someone else’s (verse 4)

-share personal instruction from the word with others (verse 6)

I would add to Paul’s teachings and say the “doing good” we can all do for our Christian family is prayer. We are living with a prayer crisis for our brothers and sisters of faith in Afghanistan. The world is praying for the Afghan and non-Afghan people who are innocently caught up in a power struggle and political war. But, how many people of the world added to their prayers, specific concerns for the Christian Church? Only fellow believers. Our hearts and spirits ache for our brothers and sisters, who are threatened and persecuted for their faith. Simple things we take for granted: attending worship, fellowshipping with other believers, and owning a Bible.

Yes, we are hurt and devastated by the atrocities to our family members of the faith. However, we can pray longer, harder, and more purposefully. Let’s follow the 1st Century believers who fervently prayed for Peter in prison, knowing the prayer of righteous person has great effectiveness. (Acts 12:5; James 5:16).

NCFI Cares: Blessings & Arrows—How to pray on the run.

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Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

In an article published in the USA NCF journal, Journal of Christian Nursing, author Marsha Fowler shares 2 simple prayer styles.  “In the crazy-busy days of nursing care, forms of prayer that are crisp and concise can sustain, nourish, and center us.”

The first one is based upon a Jewish tradition of 100 blessings. At first it sounds overwhelming to think of praying or thinking of a 100 of anything, let alone something specific like 100 blessings.  Instead, the idea is to point out various blessings to the Lord related to our pleasurable experiences. The prayer begins with the words, “Blessed are you, O Lord, who _____________ (fill in the blank). Amen.”

A few examples may be:

“Blessed are you, O Lord, who cares for my family. Amen.”

“Blessed are you, O Lord, who gave me a physical body to work. Amen.”

I would encourage you to start with simple and obvious blessings, like the examples. The idea is once you get started your heart and spirit will open up to bless the Lord for all he has provided.

The second simple prayer discussed by Fowler is arrow prayers. These prayers are “very short, a phrase or a sentence only, usually taken from Scripture, often from the Psalms.” A few examples, might be:

 “Lord gives me strength and protects me; You are my deliverer.” (Psalms 118:14)

“Oh, God of hope, fill me with all joy and peace.” (Romans 15:13).

Inserted in each of these arrow prayers is the personal pronoun, me/my to remind and emphasize how the Lord is an intimate provider of all we need.  Next time you are too exhausted or stressed to pray, start sending blessings to God; or repeat an arrow prayer focused on bringing the truth of Scripture with the reality of God to your spirit.

In addition, we can teach these simple prayer techniques to our patients, who may be too ill or anxious to pray, or are unfamiliar with praying. 

“Arrow prayers remind us that God is near, that help is at hand, that we are cared for no matter the trials and demands for the day.”

Fowler, M.D. Prayer from the Cauldron, JCN/January-March, 2021 p. 13-14