Prayer gifting
So here I am, now getting a senior citizen discount at Wendy’s for coffee. I used to think 40 was getting old but now 60 isn’t far off at all. And with our combined household income, we are financially doing well. We are thankful for our blessings.
With my age and income, I have accumulated my share of “stuff.” I have clothes, appliances, tools, books, body fat, everything someone in my demographic typically has. So this presents a good dilemma; when it comes time for cultural gift giving, what do you get someone who has everything they need? Well, you get them something that they indulge in, or want, even though they may not need it. Like cashews, beef jerky, homemade apple crisp … do you see a pattern here?
So I have decided that I am ready to trade in the tangible, for the so-called intangible. I have four adult children, all in their thirties, and some teenage grandchildren. And for traditional gift giving seasons/times, Christmas especially, but also birthdays, etc., I am informing them that I do not want any material gifts whatsoever.
(Okay, maybe the apple crisp is still on the table.)
But instead, I am going to ask them or more literally, give them a prayer request card, similar to what you may find in church, and handle this one of two ways. I will make a prayer request asking for their commitment to pray each day for that request, or, they can choose out of options I will present to them.
If each of my children pray for 30 seconds each, every day, for the following year, if it’s a Christmas time prayer request, then that’s two minutes day I have secured prayer on my behalf for something I believe is needed. Two minutes times 365 days equals 730 minutes, or a little over 12 hours.
That’s over 12 hours of prayer I will have garnered on my behalf! That’s just getting four people to pray for 30 seconds a day for you. It could be more.
There are great and valid concerns over the commercialization of Christmas. Many Christians feel it cheapens the true meaning of the holiday. We explain our gift-giving methodology on the fact that the wise men presented gifts to the Christ child, and to celebrate the birth, or entrance, of God into our world, we present gifts to one another in a spirit of love, kindness and honor.
That is open to criticism of over-simplification, but I’ll endure it. And admittedly they were material gifts, but sometimes the greater gift may be non-material, like prayer.
I am not advocating doing away with giving material gifts at all, but my hope is that people will add [rayer gifting as an added dimension to their giving.
When exchanging gifts with loved ones, or anyone you may exchange gifts with, how about giving them a prayer gift card that gives them opportunity to make a request that you’ll honor with whatever commitment level you can afford? And perhaps, someone will grant you a prayer gift?
Couples could do this for parents; co-workers could exchange prayer giftings, cousins to cousins, neighbors to neighbors. I don’t need your money, or material things, but I would more than welcome and appreciate the time you give me in prayer. I’m confident, most would.
Be reminded, there is nothing wrong with gifting material things, but it’s time our culture gave the one thing more importantly overall, to one another – prayer. But please, don’t take this kind of obligation dishonestly, lazily or insincerely. Don’t participate if you won’t fulfill it.
And don’t let this just be a Christmas matter; why not do prayer gifting for graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, Easter or any other appropriate gift giving celebration? I propose prayer gifting as an added element that doesn’t cost anyone anything but some time and sincerity.
I believe we all can find that to give.
1 Timothy 2:1 – “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”