Passing the Baton in Prayer
Photo by Rosario Fernandes on Unsplash
It’s the National Day of Prayer and boy do we need it! While looking through my files, I found an assignment from Pastor Arlene Mitchell when I took a prayer course she offered. We were to write about “passing the baton in prayer.” May you be encouraged to not drop this most powerful assignment of every believer.
I am an educator by trade, and when I am assigned a task, I begin with research. In reading the theme, “Passing the Baton in Prayer,” I researched what it is like to pass a baton. I found some good instruction by Nicolette Mok and clarity through the Word of God in support of her directives.
Relay: Precision is important when passing a baton during a relay race, as fumbling would cause a team to lose seconds in a race where every moment counts, while dropping a baton would result in disqualification.
*This assignment that Pastor Arlene is unfolding is critical. In a race, every moment counts, the same as with God.”
Baton Rule #1 We cannot afford to drop the baton. I Peter 4:7 reads, “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.”
Relay: In order to maximize chances of widening a lead between you and your competitors, it is essential that all members of a relay team are adept at the fundamentals of passing and receiving the baton.
Baton Rule #2 Prayer maximizes the lead between us and the enemy!
We cannot only be concerned about how we run the race, but everyone who professes the name of Jesus, and inviting those who don’t. The Word of God says, “When you’ve been strengthened, strengthen your brother.” Acts 1:4 declares, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” And allow me to amplify this with the Message Bible or as Pastor Hannah in Chicago says, “the hood version.” Here it is: “They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also, Jesus’ mother, Mary and his brothers.” Prayer is what maximizes the lead between us and our competitors. And not the competitors that easily come to mind – think the prince of darkness and everything he attempts to sow in our good ground.
Relay: Firstly, ensure that all members of your relay team are aware of the specific positions that they are supposed to move off from. The baton, however, does not change hands at the exact spot where the receiver is waiting. Instead, the receiver should begin jogging forward as he or she sees the passer approaching with the baton.
Baton Rule #3: Know your position and keep running!
Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” We must seek God for our position in this race and then we cannot stop. As we pass the baton to the next generation, may they not be weary in well doing. Sometimes we stop at verse 11, but verse 12 reads, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” We will know our position and keep running through the utility of prayer!!!!!!! In fact, our expected end comes as a result of prayer!
Relay: When the passer is ready to hand the baton over, he or she will give an audible cue – usually a call of “up” – and the receiver will raise his or her arm in preparation.
Baton Rule #4: Lift your voice and raise your arm!
We are faced with trials and as a result, we are tempted to give up. Society has co-opted practices and language that will get us caught up, if we are not careful. “Protecting my peace, I’m doing me, I’m on a different vibration, I’m manifesting,” all may have validity to a certain extent, but as followers of Christ, we are to seek what we need on earth whether that be a licensed therapist, medication, time spent in rest, but also, lift our voice and raise our arms. Hebrews 5:7 reads, “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.” What is reverence? Simply honor and respect. We honor God through our praise, our worship, our prayer!
Relay: The receiver’s arm should be outstretched and high, positioned at the back of the body. The palm should be facing the passer. The passer will then place the baton in the receiver’s hand while both are running; *One important thing to note would be the relay zone. All batons must be passed within this zone. Failure to do so would cause your team to get disqualified, so it is important to ensure a good understanding between both passer and receiver!
Baton Rule #5: Understand the symbiotic relationship between the passer and receiver and the necessity of the relay zone!
Symbiotic means, “a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.” Mutually beneficial means, we both get what we need! Colossians 1:9-12 reads, Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.”
Just as we must have a symbiotic relationship with the next generation, God expects us to have a symbiotic relationship with Him and right now in the relay zone!!!!!. As in our race analogy, He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the Kingdom of light.
Lord, make us to remember our baton rules:
We cannot afford to drop the baton.
Prayer maximizes the lead between us and the enemy!
Know your position and keep running!
Lift your voice and raise your arms!
Understand the symbiotic relationship between the passer and receiver and the necessity of now in the relay zone!
Let us pray for strategies to be released for passing the baton!