November 12, 2010
Guest Post: Prayer Gifts
12:00 AM | 
Posted by
Stephanie
Through all the blog surfing I’ve done over the last few years, I’ve learned that people post about their passions. From adoption to zip lining, there’s a blog for everyone!
The title of my blog, Prayer Gifts, gives a name to my passion: prayer that reaches the heart of God but also touches the hands and heart of the recipient. Tangible prayer.
When an old friend lost her mother to cancer, I could think of no better gift to give her than prayer. She told me she felt like the prayer came from her mother’s heart.
I was floored!
A few months later, I wrote a prayer letter for my co-worker who has religion but no relationship with Jesus. Although I could feel the Lord telling me to write it, I was worried about how she'd respond. I didn't want her to think I was some crazy bible thumper who would preach to her every day at school. Guess what? She loved her prayer letter just as much as my church friend did! She now expects one every year on her birthday.
I was floored again!
Prayer letters are so simple, but they pack a powerful punch! Over the years, God has given me some creative ideas for prayer letters, and I’ve started sharing them each Monday on my blog.
Prayer gifts are not just prayer letters.
About three years ago, that same co-worker lost her husband to a heart attack right as we were getting out of school for the summer. My family had a three-week vacation planned when school let out, but I hated to leave my friend who was still reeling from the shocking loss. I cried out to God for some way to minister to her across the miles, and prayer texts were born.
Each morning of that summer, I sent her a prayer based on a promise from God's word-prayers about the peace of God, the provision of God, and the power of God to heal her wounded heart. It was my small way to remind her that God would help her through her grief if she'd let Him.
After sending the prayer texts all summer, I returned to school only to discover that she had shared them with others. Other co-workers came up to me and said, "I want to get the prayers, too!" Soon, family members were added to the list. Then church friends and blog friends. Today, I have over 100 people on my prayer text list. My Blackberry is a ministry tool.
I can't count the number of times someone has texted me back and said, "How did you know? That prayer was just what I needed this morning." Well, I didn't know. But God did. Some mornings, I feel His hand cover mine as He uses my fingers to send His direct message in 140 characters or less. I can think of no greater privilege than to be used by God to encourage others. I love it!
My dream is to see Christian women of all ages and backgrounds giving prayer gifts! If we all took the time to be a balm of encouragement to the people around us, just think how beautiful this world would be! Please join me for Prayer Gift Mondays and help me start a blessing revolution!
Praying for you to catch a passion for prayer gifts,
Lee
My personal blog: Prayer Gifts
Find me on Twitter: @leebirdmerrill
For about seven years, I've been writing scripture-rich prayer letters for friends and family during times of celebration and crisis.
In the last month, I’ve tucked a prayer letter inside a baby shower gift, slipped one in the hand of a teenage boy who’s like a son to me, dropped one in the mail for a far-off friend, and agonized over one for a friend going through a painful divorce.
I celebrated my friend Suzie's transformation into proud gramma by sending her a prayer letter.
In times of celebration and times of pain, people are blessed by prayer. Rather than just saying, "I prayed for you," I write the prayer out and place it in the hands of the person.
My first prayer letter was born out of broke-ness. I was broke and had no way to purchase a birthday gift for a church friend. I sat down and wrote a prayer of blessing over her life and sheepishly handed it to her at church. I'm sure I probably apologized for not having a real gift. She loved the prayer letter and said it was the best gift she had ever received.
I was floored!
A few months later, I wrote a prayer letter for my co-worker who has religion but no relationship with Jesus. Although I could feel the Lord telling me to write it, I was worried about how she'd respond. I didn't want her to think I was some crazy bible thumper who would preach to her every day at school. Guess what? She loved her prayer letter just as much as my church friend did! She now expects one every year on her birthday.
I was floored again!
Prayer letters are so simple, but they pack a powerful punch! Over the years, God has given me some creative ideas for prayer letters, and I’ve started sharing them each Monday on my blog.
Prayer gifts are not just prayer letters.
About three years ago, that same co-worker lost her husband to a heart attack right as we were getting out of school for the summer. My family had a three-week vacation planned when school let out, but I hated to leave my friend who was still reeling from the shocking loss. I cried out to God for some way to minister to her across the miles, and prayer texts were born.
Each morning of that summer, I sent her a prayer based on a promise from God's word-prayers about the peace of God, the provision of God, and the power of God to heal her wounded heart. It was my small way to remind her that God would help her through her grief if she'd let Him.
After sending the prayer texts all summer, I returned to school only to discover that she had shared them with others. Other co-workers came up to me and said, "I want to get the prayers, too!" Soon, family members were added to the list. Then church friends and blog friends. Today, I have over 100 people on my prayer text list. My Blackberry is a ministry tool.
I can't count the number of times someone has texted me back and said, "How did you know? That prayer was just what I needed this morning." Well, I didn't know. But God did. Some mornings, I feel His hand cover mine as He uses my fingers to send His direct message in 140 characters or less. I can think of no greater privilege than to be used by God to encourage others. I love it!
My dream is to see Christian women of all ages and backgrounds giving prayer gifts! If we all took the time to be a balm of encouragement to the people around us, just think how beautiful this world would be! Please join me for Prayer Gift Mondays and help me start a blessing revolution!
Praying for you to catch a passion for prayer gifts,
Lee
My personal blog: Prayer Gifts
Find me on Twitter: @leebirdmerrill
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1 comments:
What an awesome idea! You are so right about prayer being such a wonderful thing to receive. But to have it in a letter seems so much more personal. Thank you for sharing this with us!
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