Prayer is real work
and also, an absolute honour
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Prayer is real work. It is not a side hustle or a religious endeavour or my attempt to become more pious or holy. It is my work. It is a responsibility, an invitation, a chance to call upon God and bring His transforming power. I am convinced it can move strongholds, the giants of the enemy, and yes, even mountains. I do not wield the sword of administration, program, or even of liturgy. I wield the Sword of the Spirit.
Where do I pray?
I do not have to shout it from the street corners, but instead, I can whisper it as I scrub the dishes. I do not need a special room, but can intercede as the needs are brought to my attention. Sometimes the needs implode upon me at night through dreams while I am deep in slumber with hidden symbolic meanings planted throughout. When I awake, I work to dig out the significance and bring it to the Lord in prayer.
Sometimes these prompts require an action, a sharing between those involved and praying with others. Other times it is only hidden, solitary work. The Lord hears, He sees, and has already gone before me. My delivery is not perfect, and neither are my intercessions. But as I present my requests to the Lord, His power is unleashed and adds to my frail attempts, His complete and certain authority.
I can be a bit self-conscious when I pray within a group, and stumble on my words. But by myself when no one is listening but God, I can be extra bold and confident with my requests. There is no danger here to sound insensitive or be pessimistic or act like a killjoy. I am fighting against an enemy cowering in the shadows that often no one else can see or hear or sense and sometimes that scares people. But I have learnt not to be afraid.
I do not have all day to pray, only moments. I cannot always make it to the prayer meetings. My days are often full of activity with five children to clothe and feed and a house to tend to and school to be involved in and a husband whom I love and extracurricular activities to remember and neighbours to chat to and serve. There is always an abundance of tasks to be completed and life to be lived. I just have to tuck prayer into my pocket and take it with me wherever I go!
Prayer changes things
It is a wonderful thing to realise that here in my moments of fixed attention while I labour with normal, everyday tasks or chores, that I am doing important work that goes out even beyond the boundaries of my home, altering the trajectory of the world in small but significant ways, making it look a little bit more like heaven.
To be called upon by the Lord Himself with prayer requests, together with knowledge of great and unsearchable things, is a great honour. To be given an open door of opportunity to bring heaven to earth is a privilege I do not deserve. It is grace. This is the particular type of work I have been given right now.
I have seen so many miracles. I have stood and been amazed at the changes that happen because I have interceded with bold requests that I believe the Father has already made way for.
Who do I pray for?
This week I am praying for babies to be conceived, for the enemy of bitterness and resentment to be gone over people, for neighbours to be healed, and many other needs. I pray for the people around me—for my family and my husband, my neighbours and friends, the school my children go to and the work my husband does. I pray for my church and the leaders. I pray for my passions and desire to write good things, and I pray for you, my readers.
What is it that God wants you to know today?
Right now, it is a reminder of the power of the name of Jesus—that we can command the enemy to withdraw in Jesus’ name and he will flee. We can seek the will of God and speak His name over circumstances, drawing people back to His comforting, loving embrace in times of trials or upheaval.
The prayer shield
Both my husband and I have a strong Christian heritage on every side of our family who pray. This makes us feel extremely rich. Last weekend we honoured Ben’s mum who has just turned 70. All 7 children and their husbands/wives and their 29 grandchildren were present for the weekend long celebrations. Ben’s parents dedicate a day a week to pray for each of their children and their families.
We are still recipients of the legacy of prayers from Ben’s grandparents who are no longer with us. Ben’s grandma used to go for a walk every morning down the forshore where she lived and pray for each member of her family by name.
Both of my grandma’s are now widows and are also faithful prayer warriors. One of my grandma’s who we call ‘Farm Grandma’, because she lives on the family farm next door to my mum and dad, and who is now in her 90’s, prays morning and night for her family (she had six children). As she gets into bed, she prays for each one by name before she sleeps, which is no easy task. Look how many of us there are now!
Farm Grandma, who can no longer see to read now, calls to mind prayers and scriptures and poems that she has memorised over her life. A few weeks ago, my Aunty found and passed onto me a beautiful and powerful prayer that is part of her repertoire called the ‘Prayer Shield’. Many years ago, Farm Grandma picked it up from the kitchen table of her own mother’s home (whom we aptly called ‘Beach Grandma’ because she lived at the beach!).
My aim is to have the ‘Prayer Shield’ memorised like Farm Grandma does so I can tuck it into my pocket and take it with me wherever go (and no matter how bad my eyesight might get in old age!). Maybe one day a future granddaughter of mine might find the old wrinkled papers and pick up the baton, and maybe she will alter the trajectory of the world in small but significant ways, making it look a little bit more like heaven, too.
Scroll down for the Prayer Shield. Feel free to print it off pocket sized like I have!
“‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
With love and grace,
Sarah Alison
I write to spur you on towards love and good deeds, or in other words—to be a Beauty Maker.
I have always contemplated the world through a microscopic lens, often trying to find deeper meaning in what I see and experience. I love peeling back the layers and finding the very presence and love of God in it all. That is my treasure. This is what drives what I write.
Your companionship is my biggest encouragement but if you wish to spur me on with other means, I am so grateful!
I love your bold yet simple call to prayer. Thank you for sharing with us the overflow of what you’ve learned.
Such a beautiful piece. This deeply resonated with my heart. Bless you sister. ❤️