“On the Spot” Praying
People were gathered at Christview for a Day of Prayer. A participant observed that in other religions, such as Islam, the practice of prayer is much more visible than in Christianity. Five times a day, devout Muslims will stop what they are doing, face Mecca, and pray. “Not that we pray in order to be seen by others,” the participant continued, “but are there ways Christian prayer can become a more visible witness to our faith in Jesus Christ?” The thoughtful silence that followed the question indicated the group did not have an immediate answer, but it was a question worth considering.
Later in the day we talked about offering “on the spot” prayer aloud for someone we encounter in our daily lives who expresses a concern or need. The conversation can be with family members, friends, work colleagues, neighbors, or strangers who bring up a concern. We can respond, “Would you like me to offer a prayer (for that person, situation, or need) right now?” As we pray, we are connecting the need with God’s need-meeting power.
Some participants shared experiences of offering “on the spot prayers.” They said it took courage to offer prayer, but they were surprised at how readily people received the offer. Then an astute participant tied this discussion to the previous question, “It seems that “on the spot” praying with people is a way Christians make prayer a visible, tangible witness to Jesus Christ.” The group “Aha!” said that we had come to an important insight.
A Method of Evangelism
Evangelism means sharing the good news that God reigns and that Jesus is Savior and Lord. One of the best ways of getting that message across is by showing that you believe it. You do this every time you pray for God to make a difference in the life of another person. When God does something in answer to your prayers, those who benefit may grow in their capacity to believe.
Offering “on the spot” prayer with people in the course of daily interactions is a very “doable” way for most people to make the love of God in Jesus visible and tangible. Here are some suggestions for how to do it.
On the Spot Praying with People
- Have confidence that the Holy Spirit will work through your prayer, even if you don’t feel like you have the right words (Romans 8:26-27)
- Talk with the person long enough to get clear on what their request is and the names of the people involved in the request
- Don’t let talking about the situation replace praying for the situation
- Don’t try to give advice or “fix” the problem
- Take the concern to the Only One with the wisdom and power to act in the best way in response to the request
- Start with praise for who God is and how God works
- Thank God for God’s love for the people involved in the request
- Express the request in their words, as much as possible
- Thank God for already working to answer this prayer in the best way
- Be open to God using you as part of the answer to your prayer
- Leave the results to God