NOTE: most of this post was originally
shared in 2008, but as I read through it years, it was obvious that I needed to
hear this truth again. Thought you might
as well.
Several
years ago I was convicted by God and convinced that I needed to change the way
I pray for people, and this change has spread to the way I do ministry and lead
others in ministry.
We often
hear Christians say, "I'm praying for you", but the words have lost
their meaning. The phrase at times has
become literally empty words. It’s a nice thing to say, yet there is no
action whatsoever.
What did I
do? I began to pray for people on the spot. Take their hand.
Grab their shoulder, and stand right there or on the phone and pray. This
makes a difference.
When we pray
for people and they know we mean we business, things will change. It might be us that changes. It might be the person we pray for that
changes.
I have
several friends who are in need of God showing up and working in their
lives. Yes, that is my desire or my thinking. I believe that God has a plan for each and
every person. Some of those people God
has called me to be part of their lives.
It could be connecting us by our prayers or even by other actions such
as serving them or sharing our testimony.
There is
something special that happens when we take the time to “stop and pray” for the
people we encounter who are in need.
Here are some ways we are to pray for others:
James 5:16 nlt
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.
Night and day we
pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in
your faith.
So we keep on
praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his
call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith
prompts you to do.
Colossians 1:11 nlt
We also pray that
you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the
endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,
Romans 15:13 nlt
I pray that God, the
source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust
in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the
Holy Spirit.
There are
many verses like those that call us to pray for our friends, loved ones and
others. It is facts that if we will slow
down, get quiet and listen, that God will give us what to pray. Remember
that in John 17
Jesus prayed for us and in Ephesians
Paul showed us how to pray for others. Just do it.
Stop and
pray. Pray for a friend. Pray for
others. It will make a huge difference for others AND in how you look at
things. It will also remind each of us to let God work. Life is all
about Him any way. Spend some time
praying for and praying with the people around you today.
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