Prayer for Others

Well, this is definitely part 4 on prayer… definitely… definitely part 4. This series of blogs on prayer was inspired by an article I read entitled, “Prayer: How Real Is It?” Last time I wrote, I laid the essentiality of prayer on pretty thick. This time there’s a different take, with a similar message. The emphasis is less on the personal level, and more on others. This next video is so backwards, and I love it. As you watch 24-7prayer spread like a virus on one of Europe’s hottest party scene destinations, think about these questions: What does prayer do for others? What does prayer do to Christians through the eyes of a non-believer?

You may have heard the saying “A family that prays together stays together.” As our understanding of prayer deepens, we begin to see how intimacy with God overflows into our relationships with others. James 5:16 illustrates how our prayers influence the lives of others: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (TNIV). Sometimes the most intimate moments with friends are those spent in prayer for one another, because it softens our hearts while allowing us to be transparent and willing to embrace each other in love. Aligning our hearts with God’s heart enables us to see our sins. And a willingness to humble ourselves leads to understanding and reconciliation. It’s not always easy, but when we give our struggles to God, our self-centered walls quickly fall down.

Similarly, encouraging others in prayer yields immeasurable results. Greig, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor a few years ago says, “I have discovered the power of prayer … There have been times when people have prayed for my family and me, and we have felt and known and experienced the impact.” Although she underwent a successful surgery, resulting damage left her with epilepsy. We don’t always understand God’s response to our prayers, but we must trust Him and do our best to remain faithful. “I don’t really know how you handle unanswered prayer,” she says. “I guess when you go through tough times, you just handle them! Pete and I were told so many times, ‘You are coping so well,’ when we were dealing with the possibility of my dying. The fact is, you can’t prepare for tough times, you just deal with them when they happen—and when times aren’t tough, celebrate.”

God’s will for us is to be well, and His desire is for us to play a part in lifting one another up. Stepping out in expectation for His provision creates a beautiful chance for us to learn to trust and grow in Him.

The video and this beautiful description of prayer for one another illustrates just how connected we ALL are. Outwardly we may have differences (sex, race, social status), but inwardly we share in the human condition: an intense craving for God that takes form in 3 or 4 fundamental desires (love, truth, purpose, and happiness). Isn’t it ironic how caring for others blesses us more than it blesses others? I’ve heard people say the same thing about missions work. They want to bless people from a far off place, only to receive more blessings from God than they could ever give. When we step out in faith like this, I think it’s God’s way of reminding us who the real source of blessing is. How cool… I was in a daze reading the gospel of Mark this morning and I stumbled upon this passage, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you- and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” -Mark 4:24-25

Alright, let me land this plane! If prayer is UBER important for ourselves and the rest of planet earth, why aren’t our airwaves clogged with radio ads, late night infomercials, and real-estate agents advertising prayer room vacancies on billboards? The answer is that prayer comes at a price. It means we have to get involved. We have to allow ourselves to care. We have to let catastrophic headlines bother us without flipping to the comics or the sports section. Prayer is eerily similar to working out. Why don’t people more people go to the gym… its hard work! Prayer is the same, but the payoff is bigger than our wildest dreams. Remember what Jesus said -give what you can… and you will get it back and more! This principle has been around for centuries; why shouldn’t you be the one to pick it up and run with it?

Peace,
~Josh

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