"Pray It Forward to Pay It Forward"

In the movie Pay It Forward, the main character, Trevor, is assigned an extra credit assignment: to “think of an idea to change our world and put it into action.”  Most of the class complains to the teacher saying the project is too hard, crazy, and a “bummer idea”.  Trevor, however, creates a revolutionary plan: to “pay it forward.”

The basis for this idea is simple: to help three persons in a way that they cannot help themselves.  Each person should then do something for three other people.  Like a line of tumbling dominos, kindness spreads to many by one gentle tap: one person’s acts of kindness.

Trevor’s idea is great, and if actually put to practice, would have a huge ripple effect on our campus.  With a little variation to this idea, we can “pay it forward” to more than three people.  We can “PRAY it forward to PAY it forward.”

Why “pray it forward?"  Prayer is the most precious gift that we can give someone.  To pray for someone means giving that person—with their worries, their struggles, even their sources of joy—over to God.  We can pray for someone else when they don’t even realize they need it or when they are convinced God isn’t even real.

Right now, imagine the struggles that you are going through—whether they be related to school, money, family, friends, health, God, etc.  Now, consider that every single person around you has just as many, if not more, trials in their own life.  Imagine praying for all these people that you don’t even know.  Imagine praying that no matter what their struggles may be, that God will work through them and be glorified in the end. 

Prayer heals.  Prayer enlightens.  Prayer inspires.  Prayer moves.  Prayer penetrates.  Prayer gives the blessed assurance that God is always at work within us and through us.  Prayer allows us to step outside of our own problems and see that our lives have nothing to do with us but everything to do with God.  Prayer, my friends, is powerful. 

Ghandi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”  God has given us a similar purpose: to be the change He wishes to see in the world.  Together, let’s pray it forward to pay it forward.  Let’s be the change.  Let’s pray.

~Video Clips from Pay It Forward

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGcwG-2owow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvbgetKzrmA&feature=related