Talking to nobody

My husband is an amateur radio operator. The sound of voices or Morse code coming from his radios is often and easily heard throughout our small home. A while back, he came out of his “Ham” room to tell me, “This guy’s still talking. I’m timing him. It’s been 12 minutes. I wonder if he’s talking to nobody.” Well, obviously, my husband had been sort of listening, but also it was apparent that no one could get a word into the “conversation.” Certainly, it didn’t seem to be that this man was carrying on a dialogue. It really was entirely possible that those who had been chatting with him had literally tuned out his monologue.

 

Has that ever happened to you? Someone monopolizes the conversation and the others tune out?

 

What about when gathered to pray with others? Has one person prayed on and on and on putting all their thoughts into words until you are no longer “in the room” but off thinking about, for example, whether or not you remembered to put the flag up on the mailbox?

 

One thing Moms in Prayer has taught me and thousands of other women is the ability to pray short simple prayers so we can pray conversationally with others. It’s that acronym, KISS—keep it short and simple. This allows for real conversation and passion in prayer on one subject at a time and allows, more importantly, for the Holy Spirit to be a part of our conversation. He who indwells believers desires the opportunity to prompt us to speak His thoughts into the subject of our prayers, which He often does through our different voices.

 

But we are seldom discipled in this type of prayer. Most often, we do like the man on the radio, say all we can say till someone jumps in when we take a breath. We’ve not learned how to bathe one subject at a time together passionately with the Lord in prayer.

 

Again, notice I said “together” and “with.” By keeping our prayers simple and short, we pray not only together but with the Holy Spirit. This is praying in one accord, which is “agreeing together as directed and energized by the Holy Spirit.” (Moms in Prayer International Booklet)

 

One accord in Hebrew, yachad, reveals oneness of striving together, not going alone. It carries the same meaning in the Greek word homothymadon. It’s being of one mind, with one accord, or with one passion. Interestingly, Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon in defining yachad refers to Job 38:7, “When all the morning stars sang together.” Can’t you just imagine the beauty and passion behind those words?

 

This is the powerful and passionate way of prayer exemplified by the early church. This is what Acts 4:24 (NASB) speaks to:

 

…they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them…

 

It also reminds me of the Beveres’ words in “Girls with Swords.” In 1 Samuel 14:6-7, when Jonathan and his armorbearer boldly take on the enemy, the armorbearer tells Jonathon, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart” (NKJ). The Beveres wrote:

 

Suddenly there is light in their eyes and vigor in their stance. Something powerful happens when two warriors agree and boldly declare God’s faithfulness and their commitment to a cause.”

 

This is the same amazing thing that happens when we moms come together to passionately pray—talk together—in one accord on a particular subject matter, like a child, before the Throne. Something powerful happens!

 

 

 

Out Loud

This whole group devoted themselves to constant prayer with one accord: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), Judas (son of James), a number of women including Mary (Jesus’ mother), and some of Jesus’ brothers.

Acts 1:13-14 (The Voice)

 

 

When the early church prayed in one accord, as the New Testament records, it was necessary to pray out loud so they could pray in conversational agreement, which is only possible when one knows what another is praying. It’s sort of like sitting at the dinner table with family and friends. In order to have a conversation with each other, you have to voice your words. Only then can you have a conversation or a discussion on a certain topic.

 

Importantly, when our prayers are voiced, the Holy Spirit speaks out loud through us. Have you ever thought about that?

 

Because the Holy Spirit indwells believers, when we come together to pray and speak our prayers out loud, we give Him an opportunity to use us to encourage and strengthen each other. His voice, so to speak, is heard from one to another's ears as He prays through us, through our own personalities, our own box of thinking.

 

Another important thing about praying out loud is not only are you thinking your prayers, your own ears are hearing your prayers. That’s a powerful thing, especially if you are praying out loud the Word of God.

 

But, I think one of the most important things about praying out loud is our enemy is hearing our prayers that we are sending over his head as prince of this world to the King and Ruler of the universe. This is one thing I love about the ministry of Moms in Prayer International. The Lord God uses this ministry to teach us to pray out loud scripturally and specifically in one accord conversational prayer. And He uses this ministry to multiply prayer across the face of this earth by gathering women to pray together.

 

Think about that. You are one person praying for your child in your personal prayer time. You are putting your prayers before the Throne. But, when you gather with other women who join you in praying for your child (and you for theirs), you have just increased the prayers for your child by at least double. And not only are those prayers before the Throne, they are in the ears of your child’s enemy who has no choice but to bow to the will of the King of the universe concerning your requests.

 

 

Alone or Together

On my drive home from a prayer meeting, I noticed a huge hawk sitting atop a light pole. Fluttering in front of it was a small bird who all of a sudden, with all the fierceness it could gather, dived at the hawk. The larger bird flinched and lifted up its wing to protect itself, but didn’t give up its position. The little bird repeated itself, but to no avail. The hawk really wasn’t fazed.

 

It made me think, one little bird is just a pest. But if there were several birds attacking this enemy together, I don’t think a lifted wing would do it. The hawk would most likely take flight.

 

That, praying moms, is the different between your alone prayers and your prayers done together with other moms. Alone we grow tired and often give up. But together we find strength to persist until the enemy takes flight.

 

That is also why I am thankful for the ministry of Moms in Prayer International. I’m not just one little momma bird fighting alone. I’ve got other momma birds fighting the enemy of my children with me AND me with them for theirs. We help each other be strong warriors for our children and not give up.

Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (GNT)