Prayer Guardians

[Anna Mae]

I apologize for making you worry. It makes me feel special that some people noticed I was gone, though. For the first week I was at church camp. After being home for less than 24 hours (basically, enough time to sleep, wash my clothes, and stuff them back into the suitcase), I left on my youth group's mission trip. That means that I was unable to fast on August first. I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things after two weeks of sleep deprivation!

[Silent Hunter]

*hug for anna mae*

I fasted on the 3rd to pray for some friends.

[Anna Mae]

And how did it go?

[SP1]

Man, you can tell everyone's getting back to school (and back on-line)! The prayer requests have increased bunches! I only missed reviewing them for like 1 or two days and I am sitting here with >20 threads I am working through. Whew.

[Anna Mae]

Did anyone else fast this month? My fast went reasonably well. I was really hungry all day! I made it through with my herbal tea and lemon-water, though. I continue to appreciate the discipline of fasting.

[Syreth]

I'm going to continue fasting with you guys, since my summer job is over now.

[SP1]

I have been losing a bit of weight lately (exercising more), so I've been avoiding skipping meals. OK, that's just an excuse, although true. I just forgot. I'll see if I can fit a day in before month's end. October 1 is a Men's Ministry meeting and will definitely involve food.

[Silent Hunter]

no, i didn't fast this month i haven't done a whole lot on the CAA and haven't thought much about the prayer guardians lately, although i am still walking strong in the faith, praise God.

[Anna Mae]

Shall we all make an extra effort to fast on the 15th?

[SP1]

Well, that would be a Sunday, so I think I can do that.

On another note: I have started a new topic with my Sunday School class (I teach it). We are doing The Workbook of Intercessory Prayer. This is a 7 week, daily lesson series on the role of praying for others. Maxie Dunnam is the author. This is looking pretty good, and it definitely is a good tool to work through all those issues that come up when you find yourself praying for others (everybody on this thread definitely qualifies there).

[SP1]

OK, it's well past August and...no Talame.

Does anyone know where she is? I am concerned.

[SailorDove]

Dear Brother & Sister Guardians,

Your humble sister returns. Its been a whirlwind & hasn't stopped yet. I apologize for not keeping up with you all. Not to mention the fasting. Aiming for the 15th this month.

Will post some good updates to previous prayers as well as a few prayer requests in the main Prayer Room thingy.

God Bless

[Anna Mae]

Cool. Feel free to tell us about some of the highlights of the series for you and your class.

[SP1]

Cool. Feel free to tell us about some of the highlights of the series for you and your class.

Well, my first big revelation was the author's comment on praying boldly. That is, we need to. This does not mean praying loud, but pray for what you really want. He pointed out the risk of evasive or vague praying. I did this a lot. Basically, it means praying around the problem, so that if something doesn't happen, it doesn't "seem" like God hasn't done something. For example, when a person is sick, a bold prayer would be for healing. A wishy-washy prayer would be for "support of those doctors and caregivers" and "God's will be done with this person" and for a dying person "easing the pain of transition." You see, the evasive prayer gets us off the hook if the person dies (it just must have been God's will).

Well, there is certainly a benefit for praying for caregivers, BUT be sure you're not doing it so you won't be disappointed. OOPS. I was totally doing this a LOT.

Well, if you're going to pray boldly, you will quickly come up against an age-old dilemma: Hey, that person isn't getting better! Does God not hear my prayer, not care, or what? The next couple of chapters in the book work through this issue.

[SailorDove]

Well, my first big revelation was the author's comment on praying boldly. That is, we need to. This does not mean praying loud, but pray for what you really want. He pointed out the risk of evasive or vague praying. I did this a lot. Basically, it means praying around the problem, so that if something doesn't happen, it doesn't "seem" like God hasn't done something. For example, when a person is sick, a bold prayer would be for healing. A wishy-washy prayer would be for "support of those doctors and caregivers" and "God's will be done with this person" and for a dying person "easing the pain of transition." You see, the evasive prayer gets us off the hook if the person dies (it just must have been God's will).

Well, there is certainly a benefit for praying for caregivers, BUT be sure you're not doing it so you won't be disappointed. OOPS. I was totally doing this a LOT.

Well, if you're going to pray boldly, you will quickly come up against an age-old dilemma: Hey, that person isn't getting better! Does God not hear my prayer, not care, or what? The next couple of chapters in the book work through this issue.

Mmm, this sounds quite familer. Made the same mistake. Looking forward to learning more. Thanks for posting this.

[Anna Mae]

That is very interesting, SP1. I have been dealing with this issue myself recently, so I look forward to further updates. For me, it comes down to authority. If I order the pain to leave my body RIGHT NOW, and it doesn't, then what authority do I have in other prayer (power over demons aside; I am very confident in that) items? More specifically to this case, since God has promised that He will heal it IN TIME, I don't feel right asking for it to happen right now.

My fast went well today. I noticed something interesting. When I was by myself, I was not hungry, but when I was around people I began to feel very hungry. I am not sure quite what all that means.

[SP1]

I totally forgot about this (fast) today. And God was trying to help me out, too. I went to church without breakfast. They usually have lots of doughnuts and stuff, but somebody forgot to get them today! Nothing but coffee and a soda machine. I spent quite a few anxious minutes arranging for someone to get the snacks (they were sitting all forlorn at the doughnut shop), and them promply oinked those little guys down as soon as they arrived. Totally missed the fasting hint. I'll try tomorrow, since I ought to remember it ONE day ahead. Ugh.

Prayer: Remember that praying is not an option, it is our obligation. In our private prayer, it's nobody but God and us. Most worship activities are part God and part social event. If you think about it, people can go to those and not necessarily have strong faith. However, in your room, alone, if you pray there is no one to impress with your piety. If you are actually talking to God then 1) you believe God exists and 2) you believe God hears you. These are two HUGE acts of faith.

[SP1]

Yes, I can remember a fast if I've got a day's warning! Went OK. Faster from solid food again for ~24 hours. Oddly, this means only missing two meals (breakfast and lunch in my case). Seemed effective. Except I kind of binge eat afterward.

[Silent Hunter]

hm. I haven't fasted in a while. school's been hectic, but ya. ... i think i'll try to fast when the 1st comes back around. sorry i haven't been on in sooooooooooooo long.

_silent_

[Anna Mae]

Well, I got sick so my mom didn't want me to fast. I'm still sick, so I haven't been able to make it up yet.

[SP1]

Ditto. I got some kind of intestinal virus a couple of weeks ago that basically had me eating only the CranGrape (diluted) juice group for about 36 hours, plus messed with my digestion for well over a week. Had a fever, too. Basically stayed in bed for two days, so I got lots of prayer (and manga) done.

[Anna Mae]

So, do people have fasting plans for New Years? You know, I can't think of a better way to begin the new year. I have really been feeling the need to do a fast.

[SP1]

Shoot, after nearly two months of not hearing from you, I was about ready to fast just to pray for your internet connection.

OK, fasting on 1/1/07. Actually, the hardest part of this might be not eating after midnight on 12/31, since I might still be up (or not, I don't always stay up anymore). When do you have to eat the Soba noodles (or black-eyed peas if you are so inclined)"? Will this fast conflict?

[Anna Mae]

Soba noodles? I am not familiar with that custom.

[SP1]

Let me pre-face this with "everything I know about Japan I learned from anime and manga."

I believe there is a custom to eat soba (thin) noodles on new years for good luck.

[Anna Mae]

This is a reminder to everyone about the fast date on Monday the 15th (Martin Luther King Jr. day).

[SP1]

I'm reminded. I'm also reminded that I really like food. Perhaps I'll fast from playing Xenosaga III all day long. The family wants to go see a movie tomorrow, which is, of course, the LAST place I need to be if I'm not wanting to eat. I should probably stay home, where I can control myself to a liquid diet.

[SP1]

Well, I faster from solid foods during the day, and got in two prayer sessions. Still played Xenosaga III. I ended up eating some soup for my evening meal, otherwise by tomorrow it would have been much more than 24 hours without food, and I worked out some today.

I'm not sure fasting, per se, gets me more connected with God. For me, it is more of a place thing. So basically, fasting and staying home praying and doing "normal" things doesn't really make for a special day. I think I need to find something else to do.

[Anna Mae]

Perhaps you could fast from people. Would it be possible for you to arrange to be more or less in seclusion for 24 hours? Could you go camp out somewhere or something? Or you could try fasting from talking (tell people the day before, though ).

[SP1]

Fast from talking! Sweet! Of course, I couldn't do this on a work day, since I have to answer the phone (and my pager, and my cell phone) and I get called a LOT. But if the fast coincided with a day off, that would be fine. I like the seclusion thing better. I normally feel more connected to God in "nature". Actually, anything quiet works for me.