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Today is the 16th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal.  During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.

Here is today’s prayer event:  17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (John 11:17-22 ESV)

Jesus’ reputation as a person of powerful prayer precedes his arrival at Bethany.  Martha has witnessed enough of Jesus’ prayers or heard enough about Jesus’ prayers that she has no doubt–if this man prays for her brother to rise from the dead, then her brother will rise from the dead!  Martha has a prayer-request that tops all prayer-requests: rescue Lazarus from death.  And who does she bring the prayer request to?  She brings it to Jesus.

Are you known by others as a person of  powerful prayer?  If someone in your circle of influence had a unusually challenging prayer request, would they bring it to you?  Why?  Why not?

(NOTE: this series pauses on Sundays; spend this day reflecting on lessons learned during the previous six days).

SHARE WITH READERS BELOW A PERSON TO WHOM YOU HAVE BROUGHT CHALLENGING PRAYER REQUESTS AND WHY YOU ENTRUSTED THEM WITH SUCH REQUESTS.

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Chris Altrock – February 28, 2010

Recently, the New Orleans Saints won the National Football Leagues’ Super Bowl.  It is the most important professional football game in the United States.  And the Saint’s win is all the more remarkable given where their road to victory began.  After being founded in 1967, the Saints went more than a decade before they finished a season with a .500 record.  Ten years of games passed before the team managed a season in which they won half their games.  In addition, it was two decades before the Saints celebrated a winning season.  They played twenty years before they had one season in which they won more than they lost.  In fact, in 1980, the Saints lost their first 14 games.  A local sportscaster urged Saints fans to wear paper bags over their heads.  Many of the bags had written on them the word “Aints” rather than the team’s name, “Saints.”  And even after their first winning season, it would be another two decades before the Saints made it to this year’s Super Bowl.  The end of their story is all the more amazing given its humble beginnings.

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LORD it seems there are more against me than for me. 

What I don’t want, I do have–foes. 

What I do want, I don’t have–friends. 

No one is in my corner.  No one is cheering me on. 

But…  Of course!  What was I thinking?  You are cheering me on.  You are in my corner.  You are my friend. 

I will sleep well tonight because I have finally remembered that You are for me.

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