Praying for All

Today marks the date for a full moon. My prayer, today, is that we will not see a full moon or the sun. My prayer for today is that we will see clouds and rainfall.

I have nothing against the moon or the sun. I like both of them. God created them. I also think that “for everything there is a season and time for every matter under the heaven.” Right now, we need rain. I hope you will join with me in praying for rain.

Crops, pastures, rivers, creeks, lakes, lawns, trees, and anything else that needs rain would welcome our prayers.

Matthew 18:19 says, “If two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” I hope you will be the other of the two to join me.

In July of 1994 I was living in Coweta County. It started raining. I remember opening the window to my bedroom and listening to it rain all night long. It was cathartic listening to the rain fall throughout the night. What was cathartic to me became a nightmare for others. This event became known as the great flood of 1994.

Several years ago while on vacation we met a woman and her two sons who lived in Texas. They were going through a horrible drought. What made it tough for them was that they were a farming family. Every day she would call home to see if it had rained or not. Each time, it had not. This year, Texas has experienced a lot of rainfall and flooding. Extremes are difficult to live with, are they not?

Today I read where Louisiana is dealing with the nightmare of flooding. My wife said what I was thinking; I wish we could have some of that rainfall here.

So far this summer, I have cut down three, nice-sized, shade trees because of the drought. I’ve lost a couple of shrubs, but I have not lost anything like others have because of the drought. Nor, have I lost anything because of the floods. So, this led me to think about my prayer request for rain somewhat differently.

I should not be praying simply for those of us who need rain. We should also be praying for those who are suffering because of flooding. Two or more of us should be praying for rainfall where it is needed and two or more of us should be praying for relief from rainfall where it is needed.

Our praying needs to be more inclusive and less exclusive of others.

My restructured prayer for today is that some will see the sun and moon today; and others will not. My prayer for today is that some will receive rainfall; and others will not.