In a society where misery and sorrow lurks on every corner…I’m grateful for
the message God put down on the inside of me to share his peace that
surpasses all understanding. Obediently I picked up the phone to call
someone not even knowing what I was going to say. I got their answering
machine. While the message played I still had no idea what to say. I was
hurting and dealing with a lot of things…beep! The answering machine
stopped my thoughts. I began to sing a song. I continued, as I closed my
eyes I began to leave them a prayer. I was amazed at what they Holy Spirit
was speaking through me. When the spirit finished speaking I ended the
call. I hung up the phone, placed it in its cradle and collapsed in the floor
into tears. As I lay on my bathroom floor my face drenched with tears, my
throat in knots, talking to God with a froggy voice, the Holy Spirit spoke to
me that was for you too! The spirit must have its way. Don’t be
downtrodden as you go through test and trials. Keep your head up, don’t
regress, just trust in the Lord. His word says come unto me all who are
weary and burdened and I shall give you rest.

One of the great things about being in a church among a group of believers is that many times there will be prayer groups that get together and pray for those they know in need, having a difficult time, or sick. If you are in a church that does not encourage prayer for those suffering you might want to seriously consider changing churches. But let’s just assume you are in a church with an organized prayer program. Typically what happens in these prayer meetings as they are called is a leader will have people share prayer requests and then everyone breaks off an prays. But did you know that if you are not careful, you could be actually be sharing gossip about someone in these meetings? We are told in the Bible not to gossip and not to be busybodies. Be careful how you present prayer requests because they could be gossip.

It’s Okay to Have an Unspoken Request

If making a prayer request would reveal too much embarrassing information about the subject of the prayer then present it to the group as an unspoken request.

Don’t Reveal Personal Information about a Subject

It’s okay to tell everyone that so and so is in the hospital after being in a serious automobile accident and they need prayer. It’s not okay to tell everyone that so-and-so is dealing with a drug or alcohol problem and needs prayer. You will destroy that person who is trying to overcome a bad habit for the better.

Don’t Talk About Your Kids’ Faults

Most every parent is going to have to deal with the rebellious child. It is a helpless feeling and naturally the Christian parent wants help for his or her child through prayer. But all too often we think because we are parents that we can air our dirty laundry about our kids with everyone. Don’t embarrass your children. It does not help to embarrass them.

The church should be a place known to care about people—not embarrass them so much that they never return. Everyone has problems and when you have problems you will certainly want the church to pray for you. But think about how you would feel if you confided in a Christian friend and this same friend gossips about your personal and private problems to everyone in the name of prayer. You wouldn’t like it much would you?