"Tell-all" Relationships

One of the sweetest gifts that I can think of is friendship.

Today I had lunch with two of my very best friends. These two girls and I go back about 14 years. We have the same value system, which seems to be pretty conservative even in our church-going, Bible-believing crowd. Although they are willing to stand with me even when they may think my ideas are goofy, more times than not we agree.

So we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant, put the children at another table (far away), and spent two and a half hours chatting.

The issues today were whether or not mixed swimming during Bible studies is appropriate (not), if cell phones for our teenagers were a necessity or a luxury (luxury) and if texting was required (not), and what to do about some dissatisfaction about our church (pray).

It's great that we all know that all our conversation is held in confidence, and we can safely "sound off" to one another.

After an several refills of coke and countless bowls of chips and salsa, we reluctantly parted ways again.

Unfortunately, these tell-all luncheons are few and far between. Strangely, we are much better face-to-face friends than phone friends. Usually our families will get together to eat or play, but it is nice every once in a while for it to be just us.

I am learning to have this "tell-all" relationship with God, too. What started as an overwhelming burden to pray for a particular student of mine has become much more. I know that God is calling me into intercessory prayer, especially in the area of the school where I teach. I was burdened to pray for a particular student in my class several year ago. A while back, I began to pray for him every day. I use scripture and pray specific things for his life. I see God specifically answering some of those prayers.

But a strange thing happened. I began to change too. As I prayed for him, I developed a deeper relationship with the Lord. The more I prayed, the more I wanted to pray, and the broader my prayers became. The scriptures that I first prayed for him became applicable in the lives and situations of others. I am growing as I communicate with God and He communicates with me.

I still pray for this person every day. Sometimes there seems to be an urgency in my heart. I know God has a great plan and purpose for him, and perhaps I am the only person in his life that prays for him. I only know that God has called me to intercede for him. He will never know the hours that have been spent calling on the Lord for him, but I have faith that God's purpose will be accomplished in him, that "He who began a good work in [him] will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."