There is no greater gift you can give someone than to pray for them; joining them in lifting up their concerns, circumstances, burdens and future. Asking for God to move in their lives. Seeking Christ for direction, wisdom and peace as they move forward in hard times and good times.
How do you pray for your spouse? Do you pray together?
Do you have a personal prayer journal, calendar, or note cards that prompt you in your prayers? Do you set reminders in your phone? I would love to hear any ideas or resources you use to help you with consistently praying.
As a couple or in a friendship, here are the 4 things I suggest focusing on:
A. Pray together. I know this is hard for some people, but it will change your relationship. Start small; it doesn’t have to be a 2 hour prayer session! For example: begin by simply making a point to bless your meals together. We love reaching out and holding hands while we do this. It connects us and we pray in agreement. Pray before going to bed and chose something specific like praying a specific prayer for your children or someone you know that needs Christ or is in need in some way. Pray together and watch God answer these requests as a team! Matthew 18:18-20 is great encouragement in this. Jesus is talking with his disciples and says, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
B. Pray for one another. There is nothing more powerful you can do for anyone than to pray for them. When I pray for my husband, it changes my outlook on him, our marriage, his work, and the hard things for him. I see things through his eyes and him through the eyes of Christ. I cannot change him, nor should I try. I can’t solve all his problems or frustrations at work or in life. I can’t meet all his needs. But I know the God who can!!! Look up James 5:13-16 for more study on this.
C. Pray consistently. Have you ever been in a situation you knew in your heart wasn’t going to go your way? Ever had a request that was hard to pray for because the outcome looked dismal? Is there anyone in your sphere that you want so badly to know Jesus as their personal Savior and yet you don’t see them changing? I urge you to NOT give up!!!! Pray consistently, pray without ceasing and pray in belief; knowing that God is sovereign, in control and is working in the situation. He hears our prayers! Colossians 4:2 gives us instructions to “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
D. Pray with great faith! When you do pray, do you pray believing God hears you and will answer? I feel sometimes I know the answer I want and feel doubtful that the situation will turn out as I am seeking. Does everyone get healing? Do all you share the Gospel with end up understanding and following Christ? No! However, we still know that God is at work and is sovereign and He will accomplish His will. He will do what is best for us and for His glory. He “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”. (Ephesians 3:20)
This, of course, doesn’t scratch the surface on prayer! We can commune with our Father. We must take time to sit with him in conversation and in silence. We go to Him in total dependence. This is the act of prayer. Let us not take this gift for granted but go constantly and consistently to the throne of God and lay all things at His feet. Let us acknowledge His sovereignty and power and intercede in the things of this world.
Let me know if you have a specific way your pray for others. Let me know if you have questions or what you want us to hash out on here. I plan to do a few more posts on relationships then it is open. I am all ears…elephant ears! Those are BIG! And I am silly! Have a blessed day when this finds you reading it!!
I love you 1,000 elephants!
Your Rooted and Restless Friend,
Tara