The Power of Prayer (Blankets

the of POWERPRAYER(blankets)

When someone we know is hurting, it can be hard to know what to say, what to do, or how to support them in their grief, their sadness, their waiting, and the unknown of what lies ahead. We feel powerless and helpless. We don’t have the power to make it go away or to turn back the calendar to the day before the diagnosis, the death, the car accident, the divorce. What can we do? We can turn it over to God, and we can pray, and we can ask others to pray for them. At FUMCR, not only can we pray, we can give our neighbor, our friend, our co-worker, our loved one, a prayer blanket that has been prayed over especially for them - a tangible expression of love that says, “I know you’re hurting.” - Karen Varner, Director of Caring Ministry

I love the part of our service that is "Prayer Time." The power of prayer, do you really get it? It is so powerful to have God listen to you as you pray for others and yourself. But how do you know that you were prayed for? Sure, we hear people say, "I'll pray for you,” and we take comfort in that.

I always thought about the prayer blankets as a tangible way to "give" our prayers to someone. However, I really did not know the true impact of that gift until I needed one. I fully tore my rotator cuff this year and had to have surgery. It was a very painful ordeal and, to be honest, a bit scary. Many people heard my pain and said, "You’re in my prayers," and of course I took comfort in that. My wife, Andra, asked for a prayer blanket for my surgery. It was a bit surreal to see my name on the sanctuary screens under the prayer blanket list and to hear the pastor tell the congregation to go and read the ailment, pray, and tie that prayer into a knot in the blanket. She picked it up that day and held it until the day of the surgery.

I did not expect the feeling I had when I was lying there in pre-op as she pulled out that blanket and laid it on top of me. I felt the power of those prayers envelop me in that moment. It was as if each prayer tied into that blanket began to weave protection and comfort all around me. I wept. It was tangible - a tangible barrage of prayers from my church, my family, my God. Any unease I had at that moment about my surgery melted away. I came though the surgery with flying colors. That blanket covered me as I lay in bed each day and night during my recovery, filling me with hope and comfort.

Do you understand the power of that prayer blanket? Each time one is laid out to be knotted, realize what a gift you are giving when you pray over that blanket and tie the knot. You are leading with love.

To this day, even as I am recovered, I still have my prayer blank with me on my bed. It is a reminder of that gift and how powerful prayer is to all. When the pastor calls during prayer time for the prayer blankets, do not miss your opportunity to be a part of that tangible gift of prayer. It makes a difference.

Thank you, Church! - Hollis Cash