"Encourageing Prayer"

We, for pray in oh so many ways! We pray for stuff, for healing, for better jobs, for our children, for our schools. We pray for widom and knowledge, for the leading of the Holy Spirit, for our churches in general. We pray for our widows and widowers, for those storm ravaged places. We pray for nations at war against foes from afar and those who battle thier fellow countrymen. I could go on and on about the need for and the power of Prayer. It is a MUST in our lives. Yet, today I want to tell you of another kind of prayer that lifts up, encourages, brings out the best in you and I. It is "Edifying Prayer". I had all but forgotten about it until this past week while on vacation. It is prayer where you literally pray a person up! You thank God for them in everyway imaginable that you can think of. Why was I reminded of it on vacation? Well Beckie and were invited by a guy I met while fishing, to a time of worship by his small Church that was having a weekend retreat. They did not even know us but during worship they invited us to sit in the prayer seats and then they laid hands on us and prayed for us openly and lovingly. Person after person lifted us up. When finished I pondered on what took place and I asked myself why I don't pray more this way over all of you as I come in contact with on a daily basis. Why do we not take the opportunity to lift oneanother up in our times of worship. To simply bath one another in thanksgiving for who they are. Now I now that you take time to pray for one anothers needs. But to only pray for someone with words of thanks for them is encouraging. I need you to do me a favor and hold me accountable to this. That one, I always pray for you when we are togethger, wherever that may be and that two, in that prayer that I not only pray for your needs and heartaches, but that I lift you up as well with words of encouragement. And, of course I encourage you to do the same with oneanother. Our world needs all the encouragement it can get. Love you all and you are in my prayers! Pastor Rick