I'll Pray for You...

How many times do we say this to people? Many of us throughout the week are involved in various groups, bible studies, church, MOPS, and conversations with friends and family. People share their prayer requests with us, thier struggles, heartaches, needs, desires. Many times we respond with empathy and the "I'll pray for you". Do we really do that? I know I don't always.

Things take control of our lives. Chores, children, life. It breaks my heart to think of all the times I have told someone I would pray for them and then forgot all about it. Are you the same way? I have recently felt very convicted of this. Why don't we stop right there and pray for that person. The Bible says in Matthew 18:20...

"Wherever two or more gather together in my name, I am there among them."

That is so powerful. We know the importance of prayer. Many times there is nothing else we can do in a situation but fall on our face before the Lord. I struggle with my prayer life, especially my public prayer life; praying out loud. I was in a situation in which someone made me feel that my prayer for someone wasn't good enough because I didn't use "the right words". It is taking me time to get over this. I want to be able to pray outloud for people, to hold their hand and declare the grace and mercy of God on their behalf. It is definitely something I have to work on. The truth is, there are no "right words". We are not all eloquent speakers. Jesus said in Matthew 6:5, "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get." This is so important to remember.

I was reminded today when reading James 5:13-18 when James is speaking of the power of prayer. He says "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."

I know I need the prayer of righteous people in my life. I have seen the power of prayer and God's grace work in the most difficult times and situations. When my cousin was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, I prayed endlessly for him as did many others. Through the thousands and thousands of people praying for him and through God's mercy and grace, my sweet cousin was healed and is now preparing to be married. GOD IS SOOO GOOD!!!

I am going to try and make an active effort to pray for people right then, to keep a prayer chart in my kitchen as a constant reminder, to share the prayer requests with my daughter (the little prayer warrior - whoooooo, I could take some lessons from her!) and to lift people in prayer whether they have asked or not.

Is there something you are working on? How are you going to actively work on it in your daily life? Is there a time when you saw the power of prayer work so stongly that you knew it was God? I would love to hear your stories.

Father God,
Thank you for the ability and guidelines on how to pray.
Thank you that we can come to you in conversation, in times of stress, fear, heartache, and joy.
Thank you that you hear every word and you know our needs before they leave our lips.

Help us to grow in our relationship with you through prayer for our loved ones and for those we don't know. Remind us the importance of praying for other, asking for prayer, and gathering together in Your Name.

You are the worker of all miracles and we praise your beautiful name.

In Your Precious Son's Name,

Amen