Do people often ask you to pray for them?
If you’ve spent any amount of time is prayer circles, church groups, or even online, you’ll encounter opportunities to pray for people. There are always needs and problems too big for us to handle. Our praying brings God into those situations. Involving others in those prayers is one way our Lord uses to connect us with one another. He will use our willingness to pray to Him to bless them.
Why Do Others Ask For Prayer?
* They feel helpless - recognizing they are unable handle it ourselves
* They feel unworthy - to ask alone and our faith is weak
* They see in Scripture and are taught to pray for each other
Many times requests for prayer come to us in the form of a need someone has. This need is likely a physical need— such as health, or finances, or a job, etc. It is quite common for folks to make a request when facing a big problem (in marriage, with children, at work, etc), when there is a big decision to make, or an opportunity and they are hoping it will turn out in their favor.
You see, a person asking for prayer often is comforted just knowing someone is praying for them. In fact, I wonder how Peter felt when Jesus told him “I have prayed for you?”
A request for prayer is a “felt need” the person has. Perhaps there is sickness and a request is prayers for healing; they lost a job and request prayers for a new one; a child has trouble with school or the law and they request prayers for them.
Why Pray For Others?
Praying for others is important because it fulfills a New Testament command.
We are to pray for all people (1 Timothy 2:1). As we “carry each other’s burdens,” we “will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Remember, the apostle Paul requested prayer for he and Timothy from the Corinthian church (2 Corinthians 1:11), and for prayer from believers in Ephesus (Ephesians 6:19).
Certainly we note that Jesus prayed for others—see Luke 22:32, and 22:40, and John 17:11 and 17:17 as examples.
Of course we respond by actually praying, and praying as requested. The felt need is what prompts a request, but that is not all we might pray for them. There is nothing wrong with casting these cares upon the Lord, for he cares for us,
Other times the request is less a need and more a want. We want a new job, we want a better something, we want a parking spot in the shade, we want _____. Our response is the same: we pray as requested, but again, there is more we can pray for them.
Three Prayers For The Requester
First, pray as we are asked — that is, for the job, the health, the wayward teen, the difficult circumstances would resolve (i.e. at home or at work); pray for a favorable outcome that the requester seeks. These are prayers for material blessings.
Secondly, pray from the Scriptures. As examples: Ask for grace and peace be with them; ask for wisdom from above; may they be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might; for the Lord to supply what is lacking in their faith; for help in unbelief; that they stand firm in all the will of God and be mature in the Lord; that they know the fullness of the love of God; to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man; that they be sanctified completely, kept spirit, soul and body, and preserved blameless; that they be filled with all joy and peace in believing, etc.
These are prayers for spiritual blessings; they are all according to the Word and the Father’s will—prayers that find a yes in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Thirdly, that the Lord’s will be done—what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). This is especially so when the request is more of a want than a need. How many times does the Lord answer our prayers differently than we asked or expected? For many of us, we might say all the time! Remember, the Lord is not obligated to respond to give us exactly what we ask, but He will answer for our good and for His glory.
A Bonus Prayer
Additionally, very often the request is for one who may not know the Lord, and we pray for their salvation. We pray they hear the good news of the Gospel and respond; that they fall under the conviction the Holy Spirit and repent and believe; that they become aware of their sins and believe they need Jesus and cry for his mercy; that they be transferred from the domain of darkness in to the light of Jesus.
In short: Intercessory prayer connects believers with one another, brings God into difficult situations, and provides comfort to those requesting prayer while fulfilling biblical commands to carry each other's burdens.
Pray for me as I pray for you.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
