When I was a young teen, godly people worried about me and prayed for me.

I know because they told me so.

And one morning at Eastern Camp in  Webster Springs, West Virginia ,I got up early and went to

prayer meeting to hear what they were telling God about me.

I came away chastened and touched, but they never knew that.

I have since learned what nagging prayer really means.

It isn’t about believers nagging God to fix the problems in their lives and loved ones.

It is the Holy Spirit, persistent and persuasively bringing something/one to mind and then effectively calling you to prayer.  Or at least that is how it works in my life.   There are days when I feel positively NAGGED into prayer- into deep and constant prayer.  I’m tired and ready to stop when another wave of need washes over my spirit and I am again swept into prayer for that same person or issue.

I feel privileged to pray at the Holy Spirit’s nudging, but sometimes it would be nice to know how it all turns out.

Once, when Frank and I were driving down S.R. 18 towards Medina, I felt compelled to pray for the couple on the motorcycle next to us.  We were close in traffic for a while and so I prayed with my eyes on them, until they turned off at 94.  I felt like I had finished my task and hoped that the Lord’s will would be accomplished – HAH!   I STILL feel compelled to pray for that couple.  Every once in a while they turn up in my thoughts so vividly that I know it is another call to pray for them.

I also pray for people who are famous or at least quasi-famous.  I pray for the President and our leaders (even Don Plusquellic, Akron’s mayor) and for world leaders and the armed forces (especially the Navy, especially for one certain Lieutenant now deployed to Japan!).  And, since I’m admitting to these other-worldly practices, I will confess that I pray for Nick  Nolte.  I seem to be called to  pray for Nick Nolte to keep searching until he finds the truth- the Lord of Truth.

I did NOT choose Nick Nolte, I was reading the Parade Magazine from the Sunday Edition of the Akron Beacon Journal and suddenly I found  myself reading about this troubled man who was in search- and the voice in my head said, “Pray for this man.”  So I do, although I wish there was a time limit on how long you have to pray for some people.

Today, all day, I’ve been in prayer.  It sounds pious until you remember what you just read about me.  Because it could just as easily say, Today, all day, I’ve been nagged to pray.  Yesterday,  I wouldn’t have been so obedient- because yesterday, I was a grumpy old woman and mainly I fumed and whined and felt sorry for myself.  So before you think highly of me- remember my motivation.

But also, think of the scriptures in the light of what I’ve said.

Romans 12:11″ Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”  The Holy Spirit is powerful- and if you have  been trained to listen when the Spirit speaks, then you had just better rejoice and be patient- because you ARE going to be constant in prayer! (my own paraphrase)

I think sometimes when I read the Bible I expect it to shine out rays of illuminations that will transform me into the person God has called me to become without any pain or labor.  Other times, I realize that this becoming is hard and painful work and seems to be taking a LONG time. 

So, how was your day?