GATHERING FOR PRAYER

Last week was vacation time and we left for Tennessee very late because I had a bad bout with vertigo. It reminds me of the old song, “You got me going in circles!” We left late in the afternoon which put us in north Mississippi on highway 4 between 7:00 and 8:00 PM. I had, for a moment, forgotten what day it was and was wondering why all those churches had so many cars in their lots. Then I remembered it is Wednesday and it was time for prayer meeting.

Along highway 4 between Senatobia and Holly Springs, MS, there are many churches of various denominations, both black and white. It was a warm, comforting feeling when it dawned on me that these various churches all were practicing the sacred act of gathering for prayer. It was a dark cool evening, the kind that makes one want to stay home. It is the age of DirectTV when you can find and watch anything you want. But this mass of people chose to go to church and pray. The parking lots were full no matter what size the church.

I have to thank God that some churches still believe in prayer and gather for that purpose. Gathering for prayer is a New Testament practice. Peter found the church praying when God set him free from prison. Paul gathered with the church to preach and pray. It is an ancient practice that churches need to recover. We have many things we must do. We have a lot we want to do. Gathering for prayer needs to be moved into the must do category. It will change your life and it may change your world.