A Christian lady I once knew told me that she had lived next to her next-door neighbour for 25 years. Who do you live next door to?
She said she prayed regularly for her next-door neighbour.
Do you pray for your neighbours?
She said that the lady knew she went to church for most of that time.
Do your neighbours know you go to church?
She said she invited her neighbour to come to a Christmas carol service a couple of years ago.
Have you ever invited your neighbours to church?
She came to the carol service – but then showed no interest in church or Christianity after that.
Do you know that sense of disappointment about someone you know?
She kept on praying.
Have you kept on praying for family, friends and neighbours to come to know Jesus?
Then one year the neighbour asked the lady whether she could come to the carol service again – and bring her daughter! They went and then started going regularly to church and grew in their faith. Do you know that joy of seeing someone you know come to know Jesus?
That’s the power of prayer.
It’s a power we need in our lives. It’s a power our family, friends and neighbours need in their lives. We have our part to play in helping people around us see Jesus in us and hear about Jesus from us. Without Jesus those people, like us before we believed in Him, won’t know the power of God to change their life and complete their life. We have our part to play but only God will make faith take root and grow in someone (1 Cor 3 v 6 – 9).
Part of that part is that we need to pray and keep praying (1 Thess 5 v 17).
Whoever we are, whatever we do, wherever we go, we can all pray for people we know to know Jesus.
Here are some ideas about how:
Depending on when you are reading this, you can be part of a global prayer movement called Thy Kingdom come, which is an inter denominational call to prayer from 25th May to 4th June this year. This year it is focusing on encouraging us to pray for our friends, family and neighbours to come to know Jesus. For full details see www.thykingdomcome.global – some of the ideas below are from it.
Depending on when you are reading this and where, you can be part of a city prayer movement called Chelmsford 24/7 which from 8am on 2nd June to 8am on 4th June are hosting a drop-in prayer zone at Meadgate Church, The Parade, Meadgate Avenue, Great Baddow, CM2 7LJ. Drop in anytime on those days and times or sign up for a slot plus also see what regular prayer spaces and walks they do at https://chelmsford24-7.org/
Put praying for family, friends and neighbours into our church prayers every week – in the notice sheet, in the service, in small groups, on meeting agendas, on a prayer wall in the church building. Divide local streets in the area up and pray for the people who live there every week.
Write the names of five family, friends and neighbours who don’t believe in Jesus on post-it notes and put them somewhere where you will see them every day like around your mirror, on the fridge or on your computer to remind you to pray for them.
Think of the names of five family, friends and neighbours who don’t believe in Jesus then get a piece of string, tie five knots in it and put it somewhere to remind you to pray for them daily like tying it around your wrist, your TV remote control or your mug for your tea.
Pray for people to know Jesus.
Pray for yourself to help people know Jesus.
If you get stuck about what to pray for use Colossians 4 v 2 – 4.
Whoever we are, whatever we do, wherever we go, we can all pray for people we know to know Jesus.
Pray-as-you-go.
(originally written for URC Chelmsford churches)
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