There is power when a community gathers for prayer, in particular when the need for prayer grows out of great need, in times of crisis.
I'm a follower of Christ because about 2,000 year ago a group of men and women listened to God’s call and gathered for prayer. The outcome of that time of prayer, but specially of their passion and faithfulness, was a fully empowered community.
I recall another follower of Christ who had the same passion for God and prayed. It was our very own Presbyterian precursor John Knox who said, "Give me Scotland or I die". There you have it. He knew what was the desire of God’s heart, Knox aligned his will with God's and cried out for the miracle.
Oh yes, there is power when we agree on something and get together to pray for it. But, there is even more power when people who don’t agree, come together for prayer. This doesn’t happen often, because we rather pray with those that think like us. When followers of Christ unite in prayer walls and barriers are destroyed. To experience this transformational power at least two things need to happen, we must be willing to join those we are at odds with and we must engage in the hard work of “soul” searching. This is the kind of prayer that penetrates deep into our soul and spirit in search of forgiveness and reconciliation. This prayer only flourishes in the honest and humble encounter of each others heart.
One of Ricky Martin’s best known song ask the key question, “do you really want it, do you really want it”. Do you really want to be reconcile with that person that makes you miserable? Do you want to forgive your offender one more time? Do we really desire the reconciliation of the Church? Do we honestly want the reconciliation of the human family?
When we seek God’s presence together, when we bare our soul in the presence of the Holy One, everything is possible.
Do we really want it? The song then says, GO, GO, GO!
Carlos M
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