When I became a small group leader I decided to keep a prayer list. I listed out the names and prayer needs of each woman in my group. My intent was to include them in my daily prayers and I hoped that they would be motivated and encouraged to pray for each other too.
As our group grew closer, the masks we hid behind came off. We became more transparent and forthcoming about our personal struggles as Christians and continued to lift each other up in prayer. The moment we stopped pretending that we had it all together and admitted we needed Jesus to help us, we began to witness the Lord moving in our lives in ways we never experienced before.
As a result, our prayer list grew and evolved. God’s blessing over our lives, and the evidence of answered prayers written down on paper, helped our little group evolve too. Our faith increased and we began to trust Jesus more and more. We took risks and our prayers got bolder. Those of us who believed God only answered other people’s prayers and never our own, soon developed more humble and appreciative attitudes. We learned God’s promises applied to us too!
Luke 1:45 says “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
To be blessed means to be highly favored, and we are all highly favored and greatly loved by God. He loved us so much that He sent His one and only son, Jesus, to die for us.
So if you’re reading this, and you’re not sure if God listens or cares about your needs, think again and meditate on this scripture found in Mark 11: 24
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Love, Peace and Taco Grease!
~Trish
What a joy there is in community and praying for one another.
I love how masks come off in small groups as people begin to trust each other and know that we’re all there to care for one another and to help each other as we can. At my group, we always tell the new girls that “what happens in our group stays at our group!” because it freaks them out a little to see how free we are to share our personal struggles and ask for prayer. It’s truly amazing!!!! And I also like how you reminded us that when we pray, we see God’s faithfulness at work!
We’ve seen it over and over in group that the power of prayer gains momentum when answered – what takes just a little more discernment is the unanswered prayer, especially when it grows character in the waiting stage. Ana, I have continued your tutelage in “what happens here, stays here” and it does give the ladies comfort and confidence to be more open to share. 🙂