"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3,4
Have you ever been asked by a family member or a friend to pray for them and soon forget to pray for their request? It is not a good feeling to know someone confided in you to pray and you failed them. Sure you meant it when you agreed to pray for them but as the days and weeks passed with all that is on your plate it slipped unintentionally.
I want to talk about ways we can be more mindful when it comes to praying for others especially when specifically asked.
"The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold." Job 42:10
Over the years of growing in my prayer closet (which happens to be wherever I am with the Lord at any given time) I have learned to set my intentions. I write in a prayer journal whatever is on my heart; whoever crosses my mind during my prayer time...I write. I pour my prayers out to God and believe that He hears me. When a name comes to me during that time I don't take it for granted; I pray for them specifically.
I believe when someone asks you to pray for them we should stop what we are doing and pray, whether it be in passing or on the phone or even scrolling facebook. When someone has a need important enough that they seek us out and ask for prayer, we should respond and give it to the Lord.
"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20)
At Christmas I was blessed in meeting a very sweet lady, Nancy, at my parents house. I got to spend some time talking with her and immediately saw the Lord in her. I felt a very strong sense of the Holy Spirit going back and forth in our discussion of prayer. She spoke godly wisdom into me and gave me inspiration in adding to my prayer life and the importance of praying for others. Since that day I have begun to write names in the margins of my journal everyday. I don't have to know the person, their situation or circumstances they face, my job only is to lift them up to the Lord. He will do the rest.
Remember, it is not what you say that makes it a prayer, it is that you humble yourself and bow before the Lord and give that person to Him in fervent and heartfelt prayer. It is of vital importance that we be in a constant state of prayer for our family, our communities, our churches, pastors, our country and our President.
"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (Ja. 5:16)
Girls, I want to challenge you to spend more time in prayer, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in who and what to pray for; it might just be a name but to God it's so much more.
I love you & He loves you more!
Lord, touch our hearts and make us more readily available to kneel in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for the world we live in. Not that You aren't who You are without us praying but that we become more like Christ in our obedience in bowing. May our hearts expand as we pour out ourselves in words to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Originally posted on 3/19/2020
Please pray for my friend, Bill. May God's will be that his arms and legs revive again. In Jesus' name. Amen.