The Prayers of Many

There is something about the feeling I get when I know many people are praying for the same thing. I have a loose group of email addresses that I blind copy whenever I need prayers for something special. Likewise, most of these people feel free to email me when they need special prayers.

I’m aware of the saying that whenever two or more are gathered in his name, he is in our midst. I believe that includes cyber-gatherings. I believe that whether we pray in a physical group, or whether we write our prayer requests and put them in a chink in a prayer wall in the Holy Land, or whether we email our requests to others we know, by doing so we are gathered in his name.

One friend emailed me back tonight, saying she felt that what I prayed about would come about. That meant a lot to me. I’m not naive enough to think that God grants all wishes exactly as we ask. But I believe that he answers always, in one way or another.

Many times, I’ve written about his two answers. If he says “yes,” I am happy, of course. If he says “no,” then it just means that this is either not the time or not what I need. The “no” often means that I can then stop pursuing something that is not meant to be. I can stop wasting valuable time and effort. I can then start praying that my eyes are opened so I can see what I really should be doing instead.

Back to the prayers of many. I realize God hears each and every prayer. The prayer of one person who is so alone that there are no others to help pray, must surely be as important to him as the prayers of a huge congregation. But he has made a specific promise about that “gathering in his name.” God does not promise such things lightly. I plan to take comfort in that.

Father, please hear the prayers of those gathered in your name, and bless us all with answers to our prayers, in ways we can easily understand.