There are clearly times when I venture out on theological thin ice. At least that’s what my seminary-educated husband tells me. Only he doesn’t say it quite so eloquently. He sums it up using the word heresy. (He jokes) I, respectfully, beg to differ. But you can be the judge on this one.

I prefer to compare myself to the popular cable show, Myth Busters. The stars of this show take situations either from legend or, say, movie scenes and test the plausibility of said situations. After performing their experiments and reinactments, they either dub the myth as plausible or busted.

If you are now totally confused, check out the show here: http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters

In the interest of full disclosure, I am going to do a similar thing in this blog piece. Why? Because I can find no particular scripture to back me up, specifically, but I think generally speaking, what I am saying is plausible. 

Allow me to lay a brief bit of groundwork here.

Scripture does say:

“Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

This verse tells us that having others praying on our behalf can and does effect change in our lives.

Scripture also says:

“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

1 Corinthians 13:9-11

So according to this scripture, humans do not know everything right now. (That should explain a lot to many about a lot of people.) The Bible tells us that here, right now, there are just things that we won’t know or understand. But a day is coming where all things will be revealed to us.

So here it comes. I’m putting my ice skates on, and preparing to skate on some thin ice.

If you knew that the people you pray for would one day get to see and hear those prayers, would it change the way you pray for them now?

…..Crack…. 

I have this picture in my head of a wall in heaven. When a person stands in front of the wall, it becomes like a movie screen with different clips playing all at the same time. One by one, you can see and hear prayers being prayed for you during your lifetime.

…Crack…

If, when we get to heaven, we share in all the knowledge that Jesus possesses, then isn’t it at least plausible that we could know this, too? I think when all is revealed to us, it could clear up quite a bit about the things that happened to us or didn’t happen to us as a result of the prayers other people prayed on our behalf.

My question to all of us is this:

If we knew that those we pray for (our spouses, children, other family members, friends, etc) would one day hear those prayers, would it motivate us to pray differently? More often? With more fervor? More specifically?

For me, being able to hear the prayers my grandmother prayed for me would be completely over-the-top amazing. My grandmother was a prayer warrior. She prayed about everything, and I know she prayed for me. How did her prayers affect my life? Which ones prompted God to move in my life?

Oh, and what about all those times someone asks us to pray and we say we will… but we forget? Ouch. Busted.

See what I mean?

I’ll ask my question again.

If you knew that those you pray for (your spouses, children, other family members, friends, etc) would one day hear those prayers, would it motivate you to pray differently? More often? With more fervor? More specifically? Well… would it?

I’m calling this one plausible. And I’m hanging up my skates.