As pastors, my husband and I have had many opportunities to pray with people. One such opportunity happened very recently when a couple, who are dear friends of ours, experienced a health crisis. The wife was hospitalized and the doctors couldn’t figure out what was causing her symptoms. There was great concern that life for and with her would never be the same. So, my husband, as he has done many times before, prayed with her husband. A few days later we received the praise report that all of the symptoms were gone and that our friend was being sent home. Praise God! Her husband expressed thanks for prayer and said to my husband, ‘It was the only prayer I heard!’ Now I know many others were praying, but it was a spoken prayer that brought comfort to that husband’s heart.
This comment concerning prayer reminded me of a lesson learned many years ago from one of my pastors. He spoke of how often we tell people that we’re going to pray for them and later forget to do so. And if we remember, how many times are we praying apart from those needing to hear our prayers, those needing the encouragement of our words? Because these circumstances happen often, we were encouraged to pray immediately with those in need of prayer. It has since been our practice to do so.
May I encourage you……
There is a great power in prayer.
‘The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.’ James 5:16
The Holy Spirit will assist you.
‘Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ Romans 8:26
And be encouraged to pray often!
‘ I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting’ 1 Timothy 2:8
‘pray without ceasing’ 1 Thessalonians 5:17
So the next time that prayer is requested (or offered), ask the person(s) if you can do so right at that moment! Let your words of faith be heard and so bring encouragement.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
And now may I pray for you ….
according to 3 John 1:2,
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Be blessed!
