"I'll Pray for You"

How often do you actually pray for someone when you tell them you're going to? I find myself frequently telling a friend or coworker that I'll be praying for them. I used to fall into the habit of saying this and then realizing later that I never did actually pray for them.  I have also been in friendships where they would say "I'll try to remember to pray for you." or "I'll do my best to pray for you." While I appreciate the honesty of those two statements, I appreciate even more when you hold praying for others as a priority. Yes, telling someone you're praying for them is a great way to encourage them in a hard time; but what is even more encouraging is actually praying for them!!!

Something I've started making a habit of is that as soon as I tell someone I am praying for them, I pray for them right then and there. Whether it's in a comment on Facebook, a text message, in a letter, or in person, I take a moment right then to lift them in prayer. It doesn't have to be long, it doesn't even have to be out loud. But it does need to happen. Anytime I have the slightest thought about someone go through my head, I immediately send up a prayer for them, whether I know what it is that they need or not. It's the perfect opportunity to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and impact someone else's life.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thes. 5:16-18 (ESV)

What is so awesome about prayer is that it is literally just a conversation with our Creator, our Lover. We should talk with God the way we talk with our friends. We do that all day long, so why not talk to God all day long? Tell Him about the "hi" and "lo" of your day, or the funny moment that happened in class, or the stress you're feeling about an assignment. Ultimately, take the time to put yourself and your needs aside and pray for those of someone else, just as if you were encouraging them right there in front of you. Jesus knows what they need, and He wants to give it to them. Help them get what they need.

My challenge to you: Who are you praying for today, and I mean really praying?

Backstage Pass

Last night I had one of the best experiences of my entire life. I got to meet the music group that I have always wanted to meet. In fact, I’m pretty positive that I am their biggest fan of all time! The group is called BarlowGirl. They are a group of three sisters (with the last name Barlow – go figure!) in their twenties that are Christian rock singer/songwriters. They are from Chicago and their dad is a music pastor. Something I love about them, besides their completely genuine and authentic personalities, is their intense sarcasm. They banter and joke through most of their show and can make literally anyone laugh so hard their stomach hurts. I have been a fan of the girls and their music since they first came out when I was in middle school. You could say I was one of those to “discover” them, I guess. It has always been a dream of mine to meet them and tell them what a huge positive impact their music has had in my life, and last night I got to do that!

For my mom’s birthday (she’s their 2^nd biggest fan), we bought VIP tickets for their show at a church in Forest Lake, MN. My mom, my sister, my roommate, and I all went together. We made red fan t-shirts (with glitter!!!) and sat in the center 2^nd row, close enough to touch them! Before the concert we got to do a meet and greet, asking them any questions we wanted to and had a group picture taken with them. We became known as “the girls with the shirts,” and they even pointed us out to everybody else at the concert.

There were two headliners that were ok, but when BarlowGirl finally came on to do their acoustic set, I was thrilled! I was amazed at how the songs, even though done acoustically instead of as rock, sounded so much like the album version. The girls are absolutely stunning when they perform live – you can tell they really love what they do. They have an incredible ability to harmonize and blend with each other almost as if there is one voice singing three parts. They took time to joke around, but also to be serious about their message of hope in Jesus Christ. The whole night was just very real and intimate. They shared some of the things that are going on in their lives and encouraged us in some of the things we have going on in ours. They played a couple of Christmas songs and a new song they just wrote, but mostly they stuck to their well-known songs that very much embody their hearts of worship toward God. They played all of my absolute favorites which made it really fun to sing along. It was a really powerful night and I am so blessed to have been there to experience it.

At the end of the concert we got to have them sign the back of our shirts and talk with them for a little while. We told them how it was my mom’s birthday and about the cake I had made her (which they said we should have brought to share). I was so giddy after talking to them and having them sign my shirt that I wanted my mom to keep taking pictures of my sister, my roommate and me in our awesome, now highly valuable t-shirts. I said I wasn’t going to take it off and would just wear it to school on Monday; but I thought better of it and decided it needed to be kept from any potential harm. My infinitely valuable (to me anyway) autographed t-shirt is now safely tucked into my duffle bag to go back home with me so that it never loses its simple amazingness!

The night of December 4, 2011, I got to meet the three girls who have been the biggest inspiration and God’s tool in my life to build my faith and trust in Him. There is absolutely nothing like being able to share with someone the kind of impact they are making on your life and the lives of so many others that surround you. And that, basically, is how one of the single best nights of my life went down.