More Insight

Insight

(Dragonfly Ministries President, Mary Hamrick)

August 2002

Impressions have a way of lasting in our memories, whether they are the first impressions of a person or of an event.  I am always amazed and thankful for the events that the Lord orchestrates in my life and for the opportunity I have to share those events with you.

During July, we traveled from Texas to the east coast to visit family.  While in South Carolina, I went to the Wednesday night church service of my “old” home church – I was hoping to see some “old” friends and to participate in their prayer meeting.  But they had a Prayer Walk on their program for that night, and though I didn’t have a clue what that meant, I was ready to participate!

Our assignment was to walk down the sidewalk of our ‘assigned’ street, stop in front of each home and pray for each person that lived there.  Our group of five walked down the sidewalk and stopped in front of each house and prayed – out loud – for the families that occupied each residence.  We prayed for families that were struggling or hurting, for families that needed to know the Lord, for families recently blessed with children.  We stopped in front of an old landmark church and prayed for their congregation and for their leadership. 

As we stopped and prayed in front of each house, cars whizzed by on the street and we saw residents of the homes going about their daily lives  – cutting grass and chatting with neighbors.  No one was bothered by our presence and no one stopped to ask what we were doing.  As I listened to the other adults in “my group” pray I was deeply touched.  You see, they knew who lived in each house on our assigned street and they knew the needs of most of the residents.  They were able to lift each person in prayer and ask God to meet real needs.  On that Wednesday night, every person that lived in that small town was lifted in prayer.  I wonder about the impact that small church will have on their neighborhood; I am thankful for a church that loves their community enough to pray for every resident – out loud – in broad daylight – without shame or reserve. 

And I think of my own neighborhood – how well do I know the people that live around me? Do I know their needs and am I willing to pray for them – out loud - in broad daylight – without shame or reserve? 

The Bible teaches that we are to “Pray for one another” James 5:16.  We may not always know the needs of the other person, but God knows their needs – we need only to be faithful in praying – without shame or reserve. 

During the month of August, local churches will conduct Prayer Walks for schools – church members will stand outside of the school buildings where the neighborhood children will attend and they will pray.  They will pray for the children, teachers, and principals of that school.  They will pray for the parents of the school children, and they will pray that our children will learn and grow in a safe environment.

Remember to lift your neighborhood children in prayer, asking for protection and guidance for them as they return to school.  You don’t have to physically participate in a Prayer Walk to cover our children in prayer, but you’ll be amazed at the blessing you receive if you do! 

And the next time you’re out walking around your neighborhood, say a prayer for some of your neighbors as you pass by their houses.  You never know, maybe someone will even pray for you as they pass by your house!

Mary H.