Praying a Song

I think that my most effective prayers are when I write them. Recently, at the Missionary Reunion in Lamoni (Summer 2005), I responded to a request by a friend of mine to pray for her husband who was giving the sermon that evening. I took some time to be alone with my notebook and began writing.

I approached the Lord humbly. I realized that compared to the universe I was only a small speck of dust. The Lord is SO magnificent, so wondrous, so huge. I confessed my sins and asked for forgiveness of those things that I knew about and asked the Lord to remind me of other things I needed to confess (which He is still doing). I recognized my unworthiness and thanked Him that He would listen to me.

Out of this sense of humility, I began to hear a song. Spirit of the Living God.

Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.

Melt me.
Mold me.
Fill me.
Use me.

Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.

I began to literally pray the song, but I prayed it for this man who was to preach. I prayed first that the Spirit of God would fall upon me, as well as him.

Melt me: I asked the Lord to "melt" him. I asked that his mind might be emptied, that all his own thoughts would leave, that his his mind might be purified, as silver--when the dross is burned off. The metal must be purified to serve.

Mold me: I thought about a mold for a silver pitcher, and then about how we all have different neural pathways in our brains and that when trauma occurs, a roadblock is set up. Our minds reroute and create new pathways that are not as direct, and sometimes take dangerous detours. We all have these, and it contributes to our thinking differently. I asked the Lord to reroute his brain so that His Word could be communicated more effectively--so that he could then communicate to us more effectively.

Fill me: I asked the Lord to fill him with His Word, His Power, His Love. I saw a silver pitcher being filled with the Water of Life. Give him the Words, the Power, the Love to convey Your Message. Let His Words navigate the new neural pathways.

Use me: I asked the Lord to use him to reach those who needed to hear the message. I asked that this man be used according to the Lord's Will. I asked that during the sermon he might fill us as the Lord had filled him. Let the Living Water pour out upon us.

Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on us.

I know that this prayer was effective. As the man preached, I heard references to the pitcher. The whole sermon was filled with such meaning for me. Afterward I heard others talk about how they could feel the Spirit throughout the evening. I gave the written prayer to my friend and said she could show it to her husband.

The next morning the he sought me out. I had put the time and date on my written prayer, as I always do. He said that while I was writing, he was preparing for his sermon, when suddenly he couldn't put two thoughts together. He felt confused and laid down and took a nap. (His wife told me this is NOT normal for him. He is usually very alert while writing notes for a sermon.) He awoke two hours before the sermon with Words streaming into his mind. He wrote them down as quickly as he could and had time to type the notes into his computer. He finished with only 10 minutes before he was to preach.

He did ask that I not pray for his mind to emptied again. So when I have prayed this for other people, I have only asked for their own thoughts to leave during the melting process. I realize that, perhaps, he needed the nap for the molding process.

This whole experience left me in a state of AWE. I know that I was praying in a way that must have been right, that must have pleased God. I know that prayers are effective.

Warfare

We are under attack! I saw this dramatically illustrated in Mexico a couple of years ago. Here, where we are perhaps more "sophisticated," Satan has to use other kinds of attacks that are more subtle. But here, as there, we don't know how to fight against a desperate Satan and his crazed minions. I know I have brought this up before, but it is a problem that is NOT going away; it is increasing the closer we get to the endtimes.

In Mexico, I tried to work with a girl in our church who was battling terrible, evil spirits every night. All that I knew to do was refer her to Ephesians 6:10-18. We read those scriptures, but I didn't know how to tell her to put on the armor. I do not know how to do this. I have not been taught how to do this. I appeal to the priesthood.

Sometimes we need "HOW TO's" The priesthood does a good job of telling us to "do this and don't do that," but not so good a job of telling us HOW. I'm a teacher. I never say, "Do this or you will get an F." I say, "Let me show you how to write this essay." I can tell them this because I was taught to write essays, and I've been trained to teach essay writing. The priesthood, God Bless them, are to "preach, teach, and exhort." But I'm not hearing much teaching.

In the school system, when we have to teach something new, we go to workshops. Someone who has done the new techniques and taught it successfully, teaches us the fundamentals and gives us examples. THEN we get into small groups and practice teaching it to each other. We don't go out teaching something we haven't done ourselves. How often I am impressed with someone who tells us to do the right things, but then when I ask questions later, it's obvious he's never done it himself. In the school system, he'd have to have increased observations and sent back to workshops to learn.

Jesus taught by example. I believe that by looking at him, the people were able to see how to pray, how to cast out demons, how to heal. While His methods might have been different each time, he was teaching them to rely on the Spirit. We don't have Jesus, physically, with us. Our priesthood are supposed to be taught from on HIGH and then, in turn, teach us. Warnings are great. My dad tried to teach my mom to drive by saying, "DON'T DO THAT." Well, it made my mom nervous. He wasn't telling her HOW to do it. He was telling her how NOT to do it. She finally got someone else to teach her.

I'd like to hear about a dozen POWERFUL how-to sermons on putting on the armor of God. We, as a people, just don't realize what's coming and how much we need that armor, NOW. We should have had it on long ago. Please, I appeal to you. Teach us HOW to put on that armor. I hope that you never have to grieve over (spiritually) dead saints who died because they didn't have their armor on, or because they were wearing it improperly.

From Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

He Died for Me

I wrote this on Good Friday, 2005

He Died for Me

I didn't know how He died for me
On the cross at Calvary.
Sinners had placed Him there, I could see.
He died for them, but not for me.
Jesus, how did death on that tree
Pay my debts and set me free?
Tell me, Lord, I want to know--
How all my sins could have hurt you so.

Pictures then came to me of a man--
Chased by sin, he desperately ran
Down the dark avenue without light
Hopeless and fearful through the night.
Jeers and laughter jabbed as a spear.
"You are MINE," Sin roared with a sneer.
Tell me Lord, I want to know--
How all my sins could have hurt you so.

Stumbling and breathless, he raced with dread,
Regretting things he'd done and said.
Frantic and terrified in the dark,
Eyes full of tears perceived a spark.
Loving Brightness shone from afar,
Jesus, Lord, the Morning Star.
Tell me Lord, I think I know--
How all my sins could have hurt you so.

Arms full of mercy reached to embrace.
Radiant Love shone from His Face.
In arms of Safety, I found my Lord,
But then came Satan with his sword:
"Wages for the sin must be paid!"
Jesus turned Himself to the blade.
Oh, my God, at last I know--
How all my sins could have hurt you so.

Jesus you gave your life, for my own.
Bloodied for the sins that I've sown.
Covered in blood, I grieved, sorrow worn.
Gently, He touched me, "Do not mourn.
Yes, I gave my life for you,
Now, go live your life for me.
You are MINE! I'm glad you know--
How all your sins could have hurt me so."

Patricia Ragan 2005