Prayer Bombs

In July of 2007, I got to do something my father had dreamed and talked about his entire life; I attended AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; one of the world’s premier airshows. The show boasted an unimaginable range of experimental, acrobatic and military aircraft. Many rare … and a few classified.

Sue and I had just finished a ride in an Bell H-13 helicopter just like the ones used in the T.V. series M.A.S.H. We were walking back toward the main strip where the flight displays were being staged. There above the crowds, we spotted a thin black line hanging at a 45-degree angle in the azure summer sky. The line didn’t seem to be moving but it was quickly lengthening. We were at a total loss as to what we were seeing. Suddenly a roar broke like thunder and the line blossomed into a gigantic jagged boomerang shape, banking sharply up into the heavens. The enormous B2 Stealth Bomber heading directly at us had almost been invisible until it turned. The aircraft was flying so fast that we didn’t hear it coming. Even sophisticated radar installations would have difficulty detecting it due to its ingenious shape and classified surface coatings. In other words, it would be on you with its payload before you knew it was coming.

How unlike prayer. We’re constantly telling each other, “I’m prayer for you” but we’re not. It’s not a lie … it’s good intentions combined with a busy life and a bad memory. Prayer unintentionally becomes show and noise with no payload. If you’ve ever promised prayer without delivering, I have a couple of suggestions.

First, if you hear of a grief or a need from a friend, ask if you can pray for them right then. I’ve never had anyone turn me down … even unbelievers. Don’t worry about elegance or instructing them, simply and honestly pray for their need. They will feel loved and you will be much more likely to remember to pray for them later.

Second, do some stealth praying. What would happen if we all picked a couple of people at church and in the community and prayed for them without broadcasting it? What if we established the pattern first, got it into our schedules and when we saw a need for encouragement, let them know? Here are some prayers from the Bible that you could begin to pray for others: John 17:17; 3 John 1:2; Ephesians 1:17-19; Ephesians 3:16-19

 
 

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