12/06/2024
This morning I am dwelling on a particular thought regarding prayer, and that is the reality that we are truly blessed when we are able to bless others by our prayers. I also realize that while God is blessing us, He is blessing others through us. God gives us the ability to touch those around us in prayer, and in so doing allows them to touch us too… it is a revolving door of prayer in which we are both coming and going… touching, and being touched when we lay hands on one another.
“She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”
Luke 8:44-45 ESV
As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we have been given the power to touch others while praying. We will do great works because Jesus told us as much. In this act of prayer, we are able to touch the lives of others, and impart a blessing in so doing, but with this comes a personal blessing for each of us as we see God moving through our cooperative efforts. When the woman touched Jesus and was healed we saw that the touch was not hers alone… he was touching her too. When a living thing touches another living thing they both feel the touch; they are both touching, and being touched, simultaneously. This is prayer.
E.M. Bounds wrote wonderfully about this when he said...
"Prayer is not simply to receive things from God, but to make those things Holy that have already been received from Him. It is not merely to receive a blessing, but also to be able to give a blessing. Prayer makes common things holy and worldly things sacred.
Prayer receives things from God with Thanksgiving and hallows them with thankful hearts and devoted service." - E. M. Bounds
You have probably had a similar experience. Occasionally I give time to the Nashville Rescue Mission. I have placed food on plates, served drinks, chopped salad, prepared food for cooking, taken out the trash, helped in the dining hall, and other tasks, but none does me more good than handing hungry men their trays of food. I receive a blessing every time I do this because I see what God is doing through that place and the volunteers who work there; I see the gratitude in the eyes of those being fed, and many times during a meal, I will hear the words "God Bless You." Receiving a blessing is an amazingly powerful thing, and having it come from someone who is so needy, and has so little, makes it exceptionally special.
One Sunday I listened to a sermon in which the pastor said "to a pastor, everything is a sermon." I have thought about this a great deal since hearing his thought because it is akin to the instruction we receive from scripture.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 ESV
When we serve others and do small things of good it should become a sermon, but only if we will allow ourselves to receive the blessing of that deed. Equally, when we see God at work around us, or his majesty in his creation, it becomes a prayer. In doing this in all things in our lives then we suddenly find ourselves praying without ceasing, and receiving just as many blessings as we have given. Our prayers are like a revolving door of blessing... turning in with a blessing from us, while returning out with one as well.
Father, let me pray in all things and let my prayers be filled with your power. When I pray for others, let it be a blessing from me as I offer it up, and from You as it flows back to the subject of its offering. God, in each of these blessings... in each instance of prayer answered... I praise your name and am blessed beyond description by your might, and mercy. Lord, I thank you for using me in this way and in making me a partner in your response to the needs of your children. Bless me father, and may my humble prayers bless you as well.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for allowing us to enter the revolving door of prayer, and thank you for every time you touch us, and simultaneously allow us to be touching you. Thank you for every blessing we give that returns to us in kind. Father, let us pray in all things and let our prayers be filled with your power. When we pray for others, let it be a blessing from us that we offer up, and from them as it flows back to us. Lord, in each of these blessings... in each instance of prayer answered... we praise your name and are blessed beyond description by your might, and mercy. Lord, we thank you for using us in this way and for making us a partner in your response to the needs of your children. Bless us father, and may our humble prayers bless you as well. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who gives and receives with every prayer. Holy are you who gives healing with the same touch that receives it. Your grace is sufficient for us Abba, because it touches us with the same love that we offer unto you. Grace for grace, love for love, and mercy for mercy… this is the breath of life and we thrill in it. This is you seeing our hearts, as we glimpse yours. Abide in us Father as we abide in you, and as you abide in Jesus, and He in you. See Christ in us, and in this way us in Him, as we are judged and given eternity in your presence. Let us walk with you Father, holding your hand, and sharing the forevermore with a single stride, a single touch, and as one together.
Lord, Hear now our… Amen, Amen, Amen, and let it echo back to us from you.
“And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.”
Mark 1:40-42 ESV
“but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”
Genesis 3:3 ESV
Rich Forbes