My thoughts....

Recently, I went on a field trip and just as we were rounding up, a man came over to where I was standing with two other colleagues and was introduced to us as someone from that community. After a brief chat with him and as we were about to leave that location, this man said he would like to pray with us, asked us to hold hands and started praying. He spent almost 20 minutes reciting many blessings. At the end of each phrase the other two people with me would echo “Ameen” or “Amen”. I didn’t hold hands and didn’t respond with an “amen” along with the group. I simply bowed down and maintained a courteous and respectful demeanor while turning my mind and heart towards the Holy Spirit.

When we got into the vehicle, one of my colleagues asked why I didn’t echo “amen” with the rest of them, especially to the blessings that the man rendered. I said to her, “I don’t know this man and I do not know in whom or what he believes. That he can recant several strings of words and “prayers” fluently or passionately does not mean that we are calling on the same God or have the same Spirit".

In Nigeria, many people pray for you - on the streets, at parties, etc. We are a people that like to “pray” and we like to pray most for blessings. When people beg for alms, they pray many prayers for you. When people want you to “remember” them, they pray and share many prayers with you. Sometimes, I think to myself that if people would sincerely turn to God as in 1 Chronicles 7:14, and pray some of the prayers they pray for others for themselves, perhaps things would turn around for them.

That people can reel out prayers doesn’t mean they have a relationship with the God. Some have learnt that it is a way to endear themselves to you, as you will consider them prayerful or would want to “appreciate” them for the prayers.

I reminded my colleague of what I have come to understand and most especially what the Bible says in 1 John 4: 1-5 “….. do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world”.

I am not saying that that man is a false prophet. But I am mindful to exercise discernment, wisdom, and sometimes plain old common sense concerning who I allow pray for me or lay hands upon me.

I have learnt that when we willingly allow someone to lay hands upon us, we are actually spiritually submitting to this person and to what they are attempting to impart on us. If I know the person and their walk with God, then it is a good thing as we see in James 5:14- “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord'. But the reverse is the case when we allow strangers or those whose teachings and/or doctrines we don’t know or are at the very least questionable, to pray over us, lay hands upon us and impart ‘something’.

There is power in the word "amen". Amen means "so be it". When I say amen to a prayer, I am consenting to what has been said, discussed or agreed. Hence, I am mindful to say "amen" when I am confident that what I am agreeing to is connected to the Almighty God for I know that "God will do what He said He will do".

Shalom..  And thanks for reading