Here Is A List...

Here is a list... [Ezra 8.1a] 

Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about lists of people ...and prayer.

I believe the Bible totally supports the practice of keeping lists of people. We see this practice in Ezra, among many other places.

A list speaks of organization. 

A list speaks of accountability. Accountability speaks of responsibility. Responsibility, according to numerous teachings in the Bible, involves prayer.

My conclusion is that lists are the tool of prayer.

However, my conclusion is pointless without a spiritual understanding of what takes place when we call people's names out before God. 

As best I understand it, when we pray, we are in God's presence (God being the ultimate power of the universe and all creation - Yahweh is His Name). This alone should, and does, bring unimaginable change (for good) in our own lives.

In the process of understanding the Golden Rule though (which sums up the teachings of Jesus about our estimation and treatment of one another), we learn and know that it is paramount that we place the interests of others before our own. 

If then, we are to place the interests of others before our own, what better start in fulfilling this is to speak their names before the Father in prayer (where that unimaginable change for good) comes? How much more do we mirror the life of Jesus in praying then for the needs of others instead of voicing our own needs?

What good does it accomplish to verbalize a person's name before God?

A person's name is their primary identity. When we speak a name other than our own before God, we are, in practice, exposing their identity to the power of the universe. We become a channel of that power, the power of Almighty God, Yahweh, to the person whose name we speak. We stand as an advocate for that person before God just as Jesus sits at God's right hand as an advocate for us.

There is much accomplished by our selfless praying for others. Lists simply prove organization, accountability, and responsibility.

Father, help me to remain mindful that I am most like Jesus when I pray for others.