The Light and Power Company at Trinity Church in Redlands, California recently hosted an all church prayer meeting. The meeting was sparsely attended by around 30 people, but it was a great time.
In preparing for the event, it occurred to me that prayer would be a great leveler of persons within the church. God is not honored by our "much words" and all prayers are pretty much equal. For me to go on and on about the surgeon's training and hands and whatever else comes to mind does not make my prayer any more effective than that of someone who simply says, "Help Sally get better." At the same time, however, the "childlike" faith of persons with cognitive disability may cause a qualitative difference between my and their prayers. My intellect often fills me with doubt, whereas their limited intellect allows them often to pray doubt free.
Please consider instituting a prayer session sponsored by the persons with disabilities in your church. It gives teeth to the lesson that we really are all equal at the foot of the cross. It also should raise the esteem of persons with cognitive disability in the eyes of other members of the church. There are people who will literally not be prayed for if not for the prayers of persons with disabilities, with cognitive disabilities. This is very powerful.
McNair
(fcbu)
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
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3 comments:
I believe that you had mentioned somethng like this in class, about how our prayers are all equally effective. As a christian, it is so easy to get caught up in the whole, "my prayers are better than others" based on what we say. God does not command us to say fancy and long prayers, but to say what is in our hearts. I think so many times as a person without disabilities, I do get doubt about things or what I believe, and I am afraid to come to the Lord cause I dont know what to say. But the person with a disability just says whatever they think and doesnt think twice about it. After reading your blog on this topic, it really made me think twice about my prayer time, and how I need to be praying for those with diabilities now that I am aware of it.
Sarah Osborne
Prayer is something that I struggled with growing up. I never thought prayer was that important and I was constantly struggling with the fact of "Does God really hear me." After much growing with the Lord I learned that he really does here. When I pray I am filled with doubt, or more of oh wait I need to pray for this, this and this. Or I have to pray for this this and this. At times it becomes over whelming to me and I don't even know where to start.
You mentioned that a person with a disability just goes ahead and says what needs to be said. I do believe that we are equal at the cross and that as much as a disabled person can just go ahead and say what needs to be said I should be the same.
I struggle with answers. Prayer has been difficult for me ever since an accident that happened a few months ago. After having guilt, anger and all sorts of feeling built up inside of you sometimes you just want answers. And then again I feel that I pray to the Lord to much about that.
I believe that prayer is a difficult thing, but yet so easy to do that sometimes we neglect prayer. A disabled person simply says what is to be said and they don't worry about the guilt, anger, and all the other feelings.
There is not doubt that prayer is a great equalizer. There is a young man at my church with mental retardation that is involved with altar ministry. He prays for the needs of individuals who come up to the altar for prayer. He is one of the most requested individuals for prayer. I think it is because he has no problem taking God at his word. I am somewhat saddened due to the fact that as Christians we do not engage in prayer enough. The apostle Paul said that we should pray continually. We hardly pray enough as individuals let alone in a corporate body. We need to utilize the faith of all individuals and this is a wonderful way to tap in on the hidden gifts of those with disabilities. I am happy to see this as a topic because I have thought about this for a while. It is good to see others thinking along those same lines.
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