Believers' Checkbook
Does prayer actually work? A Peterson, Iowa, prayer group has a better grip on the dynamics of intercession through a unique analogy.
"I was looking for a way to teach the group several key concepts about prayer," says David Hawk, who serves the yoked parish of St. John's United Church of Christ and First Congregational Church. He wanted to emphasize …
• That when we pray, it is on Jesus' authority ("in Jesus' name," which brings along the responsibility to discern his will before plunging ahead).
• That prayers need to be concrete and specific.
• That God does answer.
His teaching device: a check blank made out to the needy person. The request goes where the dollar amount would normally be written.
Who will meet this request? The check requires a countersignature, so that the bottom line reads, "Jesus Christ BY Prayer Group."
"We pray over these requests," says Hawk, "then insert them in a photo album, where they stay until an answer appears. We review the 'outstanding checks' almost every week when we meet. When a request is accomplished, we write a big red PAID across the front and rejoice at God's faithfulness.
"In a little over a year, we've accumulated a stack of more than 85 PAIDs! A lot of other checks are waiting in the book, but none have been rejected. Our people believe prayer works, because they have solid, visible evidence in this album."
Naturally, the check system is quite a topic of conversation with others and has proven a helpful tool for sharing the gospel with non-Christians, including some state government officials.
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