BUTTERFLY PRAYERS

BUTTERFLY PRAYERS
Tuesday, July 20, 2021 by Leona Choy

Sometimes God wants to interrupt our customary prayer agenda by leading us to pray for someone or something else—perhaps a person or situation we haven’t even consciously thought about. Should we go with the impression or is it a distraction?

There are many ways of praying from formal and liturgical community prayer to personal, mental, and silent prayer. Even simply and informally lifting one’s spirit to God. All are valid ways of communicating with God.

The Holy Spirit is looking for people through whom He can pray. How awesome! He wants to literally pray through me! I shouldn’t restrict the Holy Spirit, but make myself available. Let Him rise up within me to pray to please Him.

Scripture tells us that the Spirit takes our simple prayer in Jesus’ Name directly to our Heavenly Father. In the process, the Spirit apparently has the liberty and authority to reshape my prayer to conform to the will of God—in case it may need some editing—because the Apostle Paul reminds us that “we really don't know how to pray as we ought to” (Romans 8:26-28).

Jesus said that one of the assignments of the Holy Spirit is “to bring things to our remembrance.” He may draw my thoughts here and there while I wait quietly listening to God. That is an exciting adventure! I call it “butterfly praying.” I allow Him to direct my prayers, like a butterfly, to light upon some specific person or need because God “knows the mind of the Spirit.” In fact, I may not even speak the prayer aloud. The Holy Spirit may just flash someone's name into my consciousness.

What’s in a name? Everything! A name is a person’s unique identity on earth and also in heaven. I don’t think God has any problem sorting out the particular “John Smith” for whom I am praying from possibly thousands of John Smiths who are alive now or who lived in past centuries. When I simply mention a person's name or his need mentally in my spirit, I believe the Spirit runs ahead to bring my request properly formed to Father God in the Name of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit knows precisely what God wants to happen in His Kingdom. So I want to be attentive to listen and respond to His leading. His creative ways are endless. My availability and obedience are the keys to unlock this process of prayer. I don’t have to be a super-spiritual person in order to sense the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Nor does it require some mystical experience, vision, or ecstasy. I qualify to receive His impression simply because I’m His child, one of His chosen ones through whom He wants to carry out His will and dispense His blessings to others. Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice and they follow Me” (John 10:4). With experience, I should become ever more sensitive to recognize and obey God’s voice.

The Holy Spirit wants to “hover over” (Hebrew: rachaph), move upon, brood over, birth something, to release His power upon a person or situation. What a privilege to cooperate with Him! As His ready instrument, I need to keep my own spirit open so He can direct my prayer with laser accuracy precisely to His ordained target. Paul calls it “praying without ceasing.”

This is not a “mission impossible” or rigid obligation, but a step into the flowing river of God’s will to let His current take me to His destination. I should be “on-call” and attentive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings not only during my scheduled prayer time but throughout my day. Yes, even in my unaware state while sleeping.

There are times of urgent need when we do persevere in prayer with intensity, passion, and fervency. However, I think I’ve discovered an additional little secret treasure that Paul tucked into his letters. Listen carefully: “[I] do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering [making mention, in other versions] you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16). “For God is my witness…that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers” (Romans 1:9). “We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2). Philemon 4 echoes that expression. The brief, momentary lifting of Paul’s spirit and mind to the Lord on someone’s behalf seemed to be one of his prayer habits.

Mentioning in prayer is like a butterfly lightly flitting from one flower (person) to another and spiritually pollinating each with God's mercy and help and encouragement and healing. Like a butterfly, I can disperse God’s power and blessings around.

“Mention” is defined as “referring to briefly, incidentally speaking someone’s name, calling someone or something to mind, remembering.” It comes from mnemoneuo in Greek. God is a mind reader and a heart monitor, He knows our intentions already as well as the needs of those for whom we pray. We don’t need to spend time rehearsing every detail to Him. The mere mention of a name, or visualizing someone’s face, or a thought crossing our minds is intercession—a form of mental prayer. The oral shaping of words into audible speech is only one of many ways of praying. We can speak to God silently with our hearts. We, in turn, can listen to Him speak to us in silence.

The repentant thief from his cross asked Jesus, “Remember me [mention me] when You come into Your Kingdom.” When I need someone’s prayers, the very best help I can ask of them is, “Please mention me to the Lord!”

I thank God for my "butterfly praying" friends!

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Comments

Dot From Dan At 7/21/2021 5:15:49 PM

Indeed! You keep producing and lifting us up and we thank you for every butterfly prayer or thought. God keep Leona fluttering!

Reply by: Leona Choy

Baby Dot, you do say some perceptive things on FB. Keep on being bold to speak out. At our age, let the chips fall where they may if God impresses us to speak some controversial Truth.

Jennifer Phillips From NJ At 7/21/2021 2:29:34 PM

Oh, Leona, this post is such a blessing. You perfectly put into words all manner of praying in ways I understand and so relate. Thank you. Such a beautiful post and one that I know I'll reread, and share, to absorb further and gain further understanding of the magnificence of our Lord in prayer.

Reply by: Leona Choy

Sweet friend, I must say I am not comfortable with your driving alone RT to Montana. It just isn't safe these days. You are such an attractive, classy lady and there is a wicked world out there. Why can't you fly? Driving is too stressful and energy-sapping. Please reconsider. Not worth the risk. Your life is too valuable. BDBuddy

Vicki Dorshorn From Baldwin City, Kansas At 7/21/2021 1:38:54 PM

Thank you, Leona, for such an inspiring blog about prayer, specifically "butterfly prayers." I hadn't thought of them that way. You brightened my day with your "butterflies." Blessings to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reply by: Leona Choy

I have the feeling that our friendship is not just incidental, but there are more God- purposes behind it. Let's just go with the flow and God will reveal it gradually.

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