First Baptist Church of Milford

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in Downtown Milford, MI.

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Prayer List

November 8, 2024

Prayer List

Perhaps you are a “list” person. Perhaps you are not. In any case, if you are a Christian, you are to be a “prayer” person, list or not. Let’s think about it for a few moments.

Lists are helpful so that we revisit what we once thought was a good idea. We all have many good ideas, but if we lose track of them, what good are they? Lists help to create patterns and habits. These are good things. By the way: a new church directory is coming out – an excellent list from which to pray.

But habits and patterns can become wooden. It is not that they are wrong, but they can lose heart. Have you ever memorized a passage of Scripture so that you can say it without even thinking about it? Does anyone think this is a good thing? So as we use lists, we must still engage the whole person with the task, which in this case is prayer.

But the Spirit of God who prompts and directs our prayers in ways that are beyond us is not tied to your list. He has the freeedom to move you to brand new territory, or to bring up an old subject that you had no intention of praying about. And this is most definitely a good thing. It would be excellent for any of us, whether list person or not, to daily ask the Spirit what He would have us pray about today.

But apart from one’s view of lists, there is another divide that can help us broaden our prayers: my concerns vs. God’s concerns. You might think that God is interested in your concerns, and you are right, at least partly. But God may also wish that you were concerned about bigger and better things. Let’s try an easy one: Jesus is coming again.

If Jesus is coming again, and He is, so says Scripture, then it should shape our prayers. It is the next major “salvation” event that will change everything. It is bigger than wars and world leaders. It is bigger than economy or health. Jesus’ coming will move us from this age of preparation to an age of fulfillment and consummation. Little will be the same.

And so if this is true (and, if it’s not, then why even bother to pray), then what kind of prayers should we pray? The prayers will have to do with essential activities before that Coming Day comes. There will be prayers about salvation and all that leads up to it, like consistent Christian living and evangelism. There will be a deep and consistent interest in the workings of the Gospel so that we can explain and defend the Good News well. There will be prayers prayed for those for whom we are burdened, and the Spirit will cause us to be burdened for those that we do not yet know. With regard to our own selves, there will be close attention paid to holy living and, conversely, stubborn sins. There will be prayers of repentance and humility. Now, is that how our prayers typically go?

There is an old song that goes, “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.” If that is true, then our prayers will have an excitement about seeing Jesus, not merely by faith, but face to face. We study Him and fellowship with Him now, by faith, so that we might recognize Him when we see Him with our eyes. You might think that is silly, and that everyone would recognize Him on that day. But I would remind you they didn’t recognize Him the first time He came. Those who are excited to see Jesus may actually talk to Him more than they talk to any other Person. Would that describe your prayer life?

It seems that the Church as we know it does not take prayer all that seriously, nor do we take the Coming of Christ so seriously as it deserves. When we are more enamored by worldly issues that will matter not-at-all in eternity, then it seems we need to sit down and make a list. A prayer list.

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