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In July of
2004 the article "Soul-Saving Prayer" referred to an
11-year old named Larissa who used "premeditated"
Scripture prayer to guide her in praying for the needs
of others. Larissa wrote out several prayers and used
them to pray for missions offerings, healing, a job
situation, and her grandfather's salvation. There is an
update to Larissa's story that I want to share with you.
Sometimes we get in a rush to see results, this article
will hopefully share with you the joys of waiting
patiently.
As a kids prayer leader, 90% of my job is just
showing up. For just over two years Larissa came to
the special Shekinah Kids prayer/leadership class on
Wednesday nights. I packed the back pack and any extra
goodies, loaded them in the car, set the room up, and
waited for the kids to enter. Looking back, she has
always been the quiet one, though she really has
strength of character and vision, which through the kids
prayer training has allowed her to learn to speak up.
She started praying for the missions offering in front
of a church full of people once a month and slowly, but
surely, while I waited in the wings, she began to
develop "presence" and garnered the respect of her
elders.
Larissa
latched on to a method of praying that she's made all
her own, the premeditated written prayers that she's
become famous for. She's now known for this kind of
prayer. This summer (August 2005) she prayed an
incredibly heartfelt prayer during a sermon in front of
some 18,000 young people at the National Youth Congress
held in Columbus, Ohio. When she was asked to
participate, she did not hesitate. At just barely 12
years old, she has a legacy of prayer that has impacted
a generation. During her prayer for a revival of
love and peace a boy was healed and youth groups have
reported various degrees of answers to her prayer; more
are yet to come. There is a part of me that waits daily
for another snippet of good news to send her way. I want
her to understand the impact her life has already had
and the promise of what is to come. So I wait.
Not long
after returning from this momentous event, Larissa led
kids in prayer for children at risk during a community
School of Prayer event. Not long after that she began
praying nightly for her mother during a difficult time
(her mom would come into her room for prayer) and
according to her mom, "the words that came out of her
mouth are beyond her years."
Larissa is
in the youth group now so she doesn't come to the kids
prayer class, but she is moving on. For now, she
has turned her attention to impacting the classmates in
the public school she just started attending. Her story
isn't finished... so I'm still waiting. I'm waiting on
the day that I'll be able to take her with me on a kids
prayer training trip overseas so she can share with
others. I'm waiting on the day she'll take a trip to
some local church in need right here at home. I'm
waiting on the day her wildest dreams come true...she's
shared some of them with me and I can hardly wait.
Though
I've focused on this one former student, I wait with
joy as each child develops their story and begins
their legacy of impact through prayer. I could write
about others but want you to know through a single focus
that I've enjoyed waiting with joy to see what God will
do. |
