May I Pray for You?

Prayer has to be one of the most misunderstood aspects of our daily walk. I have recommended for years that we talk with our Father just like we would talk to our best friend or spouse. There is no right or wrong way to pray. No special position, no need for absolute reverence, simply put, just talk to our Poppa. I have found that to be one of the most freeing aspects of my walk with Him…I just talk with Him.

Praying with other people had to be one of the most feared parts of my walk. I always wondered what to say. Would it be right, would it make sense would it…I felt inadequate at best. As my relationship with the Lord has grown, I realized that it’s not necessarily how you say something, it’s that you take the time to say something. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

How do I know when to pray with someone? Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, that still small voice inside me. I have been on the phone with a person and part way through the conversation I sense the Lord telling me to pray with them before we end our conversation or to stop and pray right then. If someone calls me asking for prayer or sends a prayer requests, I stop and pray right then. Why wait?

Do you see or have needs? Then take them to the Father regardless of how big or small. I know when I talk with Him about the stuff in my life, it makes all the difference in the world. It calms me and helps me focus and realize He has everything under control. If you seek Him, it will do the same for you.

Blessings

May I Pray for You?
by Os Hillman

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

I walked into the office. The secretary seemed physically struggling with her breathing and her countenance was different than normal. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“Allergies,” she replied. “Sometimes it gets so bad I can hardly breathe.” “May I pray for you?” I asked.

“Oh, I don’t want to take up His time with something as menial as me. I’d rather not waste it on me. You should pray for someone much less fortunate than me. My mother always taught us to pray at the dinner table for those less fortunate than us,” she replied. The woman was touched that I would offer to pray for her. The next day I told her my prayer group was praying for her. She could not believe that I would do such a thing for her.

It is interesting what happens when you offer to pray for someone. Offering to pray for someone can be the most genuine and loving thing you can do for another person. It can be the one means of getting a conversation on a spiritual plane that cuts across religious stigmas and gets to the root of the problem – the person’s real need. It immediately reveals your own values and sets the stage for future encounters. All it takes is a little holy boldness to step through the door when the opportunity seems to present itself.

Is there anything too small to pray about? Do we, in fact, bother God when we make any request that is not dealing with only the poor in Calcutta? Paul clearly tells us in this passage that prayer is talking with God. It is having such a relationship with Him that we can bring anything to His attention.

We’ve all heard the housewife’s prayer for a parking spot or other such seemingly trivial prayer requests, but are they trivial to God? If God is our closest and most intimate friend, then it becomes very natural to talk to Him as you would a friend who might be sitting next to you in the car. Yes, God desires to have such close communion with you and me that we can pray about anything – even a parking spot.

As you enter the workplace today, ask a co-worker if you can pray for him about something. You may be surprised at what doors will open as a result.