Prayer Warriors Needed
I was reminded today about a family who lost their dad and two girls in a tornado recently. I left a window open on my computer with their names so I would remember to pray for the family.
A friend of mine requested prayer today for a daughter-in-law who was having surgery to repair a hole in her heart.
Almost every morning when I get on Facebook, I see post after post from people requesting prayer. Surgeries, children in the hospital (some with life-threatening illnesses), marriages falling apart, family members dying–all crying out to the Savior for a much-needed miracle. I sometimes wonder how many take these requests seriously.
It’s easy to be focused on our own needs that we don’t take time to care about others, but it is in caring that sometimes my own load becomes lighter. Sometimes looking at others’ trials make mine seem small in comparison.
When someone shares a prayer request with you, do you take it seriously and really commit it to prayer until the answer comes, or do you just say, “I’ll pray for you” because it seems like the thing to say and, besides, the sooner you say it, the quicker they’ll shut up? I would encourage you to commit to truly pray for at least one friend who is going through a difficult time. Help to carry their burden as if it was your own.
When you see prayer requests from people you don’t really know, at least take a moment to pray right away. God may use your simple act of obedience to turn the tide in those people’s lives.
Don’t use “I’ll pray for you” as a cliche. If you promise to do that for someone, make sure you really do so. You may even begin to see more answers to your own prayers.
Very true. I once heard it said that promising to pray and not doing so is a form of stealing.
I’ve not heard that before. Very interesting analogy.