I don't think it's happenstance that a community of believers,  (MyChurch) has come together in such a way that practically all they can do for their hurting brothers and sisters in Christ on this site is to lift them in prayer.  I think this is just how God wants it to be, because He knows the power of prayer far outstrips the feeble efforts of man, no matter how heartfelt or well-intentioned. 

He also knows that man's inclination is to "do", instead of waiting on Him.  (Well, He knows Jen is inclined this way, at any rate!)

As the world gets crazier, I think we are going to come across more and more situations in life where our only option is prayer, because those situations will be beyond our capabilities to fix or mend.  So I see our "limited" options to "help" here on MyChurch as God's way of training His people by getting them to turn to prayer first and foremost in all circumstances, instead of defaulting to the "what can I do" mindset, which I know is my tendency. 

If we truly believe in the power of prayer, and if we're really praying for people when we've said we will, then we get to build up our own faith and that of our brothers and sisters by seeing how God answers those prayers, with no other "help" from us. :-)

Cathy, you and Debora seem to be saying that when we reach out to help, we make ourselves vulnerable, depending on how far we reach out. This is true! (if I'm understanding you) We ourselves can be hurt. Sometimes it's really worth the risk though. And if the Lord leads us to help.... I don't know, I guess knowing that I'm serving His higher purposes is comforting even in the risk.

Okay, Mike, so after posting my other comment and now re-reading it, it sounds kinda preachy to me, which wasn't my intent.  I know what your heart is in your blog, cuz I feel the same way.  But I just wanted to encourage people to really grasp that we our doing our very best, giving our very best, when we pray for them, and that if it's the best, then it's enough.

Feel free to delete the previous comment, bro. 

Mike, I was thinking about this very topic this pm in the car. I was struggling with another person's life struggles and my inability to "fix" the problem. I, too, want to do instead of wait. Patience has not been one of my virtues. Any how I have committed to prayer and support with words of encouragement. Thanks for the food for thought.

~Robin

Howdy Mike,

I so relate to what you are saying.  I want to help in every way I can, but so often the only way I can is prayer and a friendly ear.

I wanted to comment on one thing you said:

It’s so easy to say “I'll pray for you”. It's somewhat more difficult to actually follow through with prayer,

That's why I put my prayers for people on their blogs or in emails.  I'd forget otherwise, and I don't want to mislead anyone.

Paul - thanks, it seems you are a man after my own heart!

Francine - sensational input, you foster even greater confidence in the importance of prayer and God's use of it to effect real change in real lives! Thanks for the comment!

Pat, thanks! That's a great example! As has been pointed out a couple times, our tendency is to act w/o sufficiently praying beforehand. I love to pray, but combined w/action. I want to be the arms and legs of God but my arms/legs are so short!! SO maybe God has in mind the need to discipline myself in prayer. Yes, it is a discipline!!!

Eliza, great heartfelt encouragement, thanks so much for chipping in! And coloring my blog green!

So true that behind every happy face here on MyChurch there is a real person with real problems, some of them can something be done to, but some problems are too big too handle and only God in His Grace and Love can help, so the only thing left is to lift up those in prayer, for He says in MAtt 18:19 if two of you on earth agree about whatever they may ask it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father, and then we have to wait on the Lord for the miracles to happen because our God is still a miracle working God!!

VV O VV

Apureheart ...incredible. You really need to blog that! Share with all of the MyChurch folk.

Amatuer Providence! I'm chewing on that one... now I know why I haven't always folllowed through on some of my "impulses," to help. It just felt wrong (God can say No) -I can see now how many of those instances worked out better by far then if I were involved.

PTL for you... and Mike!

Thanks Sue, that is encouraging of you to write! I'd like to think that God will enable some material help to occur through me, but sometimes I just gotta pray and trust him, and nothing more. Someone already said it....this takes discipline!

ps.... Sue, I remember a time when you would've been the first to comment, rather than the 81st. lol ...I know, you are busy...I know the feeling!!! (At least I hope you are better rested than I these days.)

I hope you realize that you are on to something with this one. I didn't think I would ever get to the bottom of the page to leave a comment. It is impressive to see how many people hit home with this and how many givers there are out there.

I have gone back and forth with this issue. In the past, even in my pre-salvation days, I was a do'er. If I saw a need or what I percieved as a need, I rushed right in found and delivered what ever it was that was needed. There was one family that I especially focused on for years. Be it food, clothes, furniture, cars, I found a way to get them what they needed. Sounds great right, I thought so. This went on for years in waves. When I did start walking with God, I learned that I was always cutting Him off at the pass.

He showed me that they needed to lean to Him for their provision not me. It was out of ignorance on my part and theirs. It is not that God didn't want me helping them, just that He wanted them to go to Him first for help and for me to ask Him what I should or shouldn't do. We both skipped that all to important steps.

I think that everyone should be do'ers of God's word, but we must use wisdom. I have found that helping people isn't always helpful. I have learned to seek God for what exactly to do and when and how to do it, and then go and do it.

Sorry for the lengthy comment.

Brandy 

Thank you for sharing.  There are lots of comments here and although I haven't read them all, I have found some wonderful comments by others on MyChurch.  Don't know if you have come across this one yet.  I just wanted to say that I too can relate and that it has meant so much to me just to know that someone cares.  As a woman (as I think Lara will agree), we often just need to express ourselves and feel that someone has validated our feelings and cared enough to lend their ear.  And people will not always meet up to our expectations for they were never meant to complete us but to be extensions of the one that completes us.  Yet we are little stars compared to the Son and He is our main source.  But anyway, what I wanted to stress is that just knowing someone has heard me and validated my pain has been like a ointment of healing to me. 

I remember this one particular time going through a very difficult time and everything I heard just added to my grief and pain.  It was like everyone was just looking to fix me and no one validated my pain and gave me permission to hurt.  Older sis gave me a call.  I wept and shared briefly my pain.  What she said shed so much healing into my heart and soul.  All she said was, "I know, I know.  It will be ok.  God will work it out."  It wasn't just the words but I knew she did know on a deeper level and was connecting to me heart to heart.  She allowed me to be me, validated my pain and in doing so ministered to me more than all the other words did. 

Well, didn't plan on going that long but turned out that way.  Thank you for caring.  It is the display of such a heart that you shared here that comforts my heart and soul.  Ministering goes so much further than what words can touch. 

Love in Him.
Joanne

Mike, I didn't finish reading all the comments so forgive me if I repeat something that was already said. The way I see it, there are different callings in the Body. I'm called as an intercessor. My knee jerk reaction to everything is to pray. It's so strong in me that sometimes I think I'm almost a caricature - you know, a one dimensional person. That doesn't mean I don't give real help, it doesn't mean I don't sometimes evangelize but intercession is something I live in. 

Since you are not being fulfilled by just praying, and since you feel so acutely the need to do something, could it be that your calling is the ministry of helps - to serve as the deacons in the Acts church did? I'm sure you do that and probably I'm not telling you a thing you don't know. I just want you not to be so hard on yourself 'cause I think your servant's heart will always want to do more than just pray and I think that is natural for you - a gift, really - and God is not offended by it!

That's my 2 cents worth. May God bless you in your praying and your doing.

 I blogged this the other day, from Charles Spurgeon's Evening Devotional, Feb. 6

 “Pray one for another.”

As an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character.  . . . Remember, again, that intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvellous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren. When thou hast the King’s ear, speak to him for the suffering members of his body. When thou art favoured to draw very near to his throne, and the King saith to thee, “Ask, and I will give thee what thou wilt,” . . .

Intercessory prayer is a privilege more of us need to utilize (something I'm learning more every day!).  The fact that we can go directly to our Heavenly Father on behalf of another is a tremendous tool we have in our spiritual armory. I know it sounds weak to say, "All I can do is pray," but if you pray with faith, believing He will answer, that's often a better course of action than being able to physically "do" something.

Mike, I am sure the Lord has put people all around you that you are able to personally help in some way.  Sometimes, prayer is all we can do even when the person lives next door.  All the people who said they were praying for me last night helped me to sleep better!  And I am sure it's what's kept me from going crazy all day. 

 Can we do more?  The answer is yes.  Is there anyone on the network who lives close to the person in need?  Can you have others reach out to the person?  Right at home and in our area there is always something we can do.  Sometimes all we need to do is pray for God to give us advice on what needs to be done. 

Judy, that is a powerful post, thank you for writing it. From you I would learn that there are more than enough people in the areas immediately surrounding us who we could serve, who need a helping hand. Amen to that! Any one of us can get burnt out if we try to "do" all the time. Perhaps we can accomplish more when we ask the Lord (our Abba, "Daddy") than when we rely on our own hands and feet. I'm dealing with my flesh here, and will probably continue to until I'm old and unable to be a "doer". lol

Wow, what encouraging responses.  I have a friend who was wondering if his "ministry" that was reaching people all thoughout the US was doing any good b/c a few people were casting criticism his way accusing him of being in the flesh in obvious fits of jealosy.  Wel this friend of mine began to question himself and deal harshly with himself.  But then God revealed to him that the gifts he was operating in were gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit for edification of the body as He willed...what better gift and of course the criticalness should follow.

I always like ot remind myself that loving people will without any motivating factor, with no agenda, with no provocation at all be...loving at any given time to anyone.  Praying people will without any motivating factor, with no agenda, with no provocation at all be...pray at any given time for anyone...and move mountains in the heavenlies resulting in mountains moving here on earth.  But negative people (any type you can choose like say critical) will without any motivating factor, with no agenda, with no provocation at all be...act in that negativity (criticism at any given time to anyone.