Sunday, March 12, 2023
“Intentional Prayer for Outsiders”
Who is an outsider that needs our prayers? First, let’s define the word “outsider” before we press much further. Essentially, an outsider is anyone around us that wants or needs to be on the inside, but can’t because of a variety of reasons.
Yes, this could become sticky, so let’s take a few moments and think about someone on the outside. The first person that pops into your head may be the person who needs your prayer (especially if you’re already trying to redefine the term “outsider” so that you don’t have to pray for them).
Granted, this is a Faith-based devotion. Some of the people who should be on our minds will include people who are on the outside of Faith, such as those who do not profess belief in God. We should also be including those who are outside of the church, especially those who say they don’t need a church to be saved. (Even if they’re right, it’s hard to deny that a community of Faith sure does help lots of things in life.)
We could also consider those who are outside our group of friends and those who don’t have a sense of belonging somewhere. We might think about the benchwarmers, team managers, carpool drivers, and others who work hard but receive little recognition, accommodation, or attention.
There are many who feel as though they are outside of the community in which we live. Economics, demographics, and social disadvantages are just a few of the things that create barriers between us and other people. Sometimes, we are at fault. Sometimes, others are at fault. Regardless, everyone deserves the right and the chance to be on the inside of something special.
Today is a great day to learn something by praying for those who are on the outside. You don’t need a definition of someone in order to pray for them! Just do it!
“The king will answer, ‘Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.’ “ (Matthew 25:40, CEV)
