BEING ASKED TO PRAY

Does this happen much in your life?

If it does, I hope you realize what a compliment it is!

When someone asks you to pray for them, it sends a powerful and complimentary message!

First, it implies that they trust you!

This is HUGE! Is anything more valuable and meaningful than trust?

They are entrusting you with a personal concern believing that you will treat the information privately and not gossip about it with others.

They’ve chosen to entrust you with personal information that is a source of great concern to them. It likely includes information that is highly private and confidential. They’re probably facing some kind of crisis in their life and feel its intensity so strongly that they have decided to call on a few special people to intercede for them with GOD!!!!

Second, it implies that they believe you have a relationship with God!

What greater compliment could they give you?

In the midst of this crisis, they have chosen to include you in a private prayer circle where each person included is assaulting God on their behalf!  It could be life-threatening for them or someone very close to them. It could be a need that has the potential to crush them. It could be a tragedy that is impacting their life and causing them inscrutable fear and pain.

Whatever the case, they have turned to YOU!  They believe – from observing your life – that you have influence with GOD!!!!!

Third, it implies that they believe that GOD can make a difference!

Why ask if they don’t believe God can and will intervene?

For some, turning to God is a last resort. It’s kind of like: “Well, I’ve tried everything else, so I guess I’ll pray.”

Others have learned early on to make GOD our first recourse! Our most frequent prayer begins with the words: “Oh God!” Perhaps we were taught this by our parents? Perhaps we learned it by passing through many trials? Maybe we learned it from a believing spouse? Or a friend? Or a pastor?

But whether we ask as a last resort or as a first impulse – we believe that these are not wasted words! We believe that when we pray – there is a divine reality who hears and responds to our prayers!

We only know that we must tap into His reserves of grace and mercy!

Of course, we hope GOD will relieve our friend or family member of pain and set things right.

If not, however, we trust that they …may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need [Hebrews 4:16 NASB].

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But the reality is that no one wants to pass through desperate times alone! We need encouragers to walk this path with us! We desire to know that we’re not alone in this trial. We highly prize companionship! We need a community of faith!

Consequently, we turn to those who we believe will travel this road with us. We’ve come to trust them deeply and know that they have our best interests at heart! They will NOT let us down!

SOME TIPS TO CONSIDER IF YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO PRAY

• At the moment they ask - stop and immediately pray with them!  Don't care about where you are or what others may think. Simply ask your friend: "May I pray with you right now?"
• Send them a card soon so that they know you are serious about remembering their need before our gracious Father!
• Text or call them periodically so that they know that you haven't forgotten them and are still praying.
• Do whatever you have to do to remember to pray for this need! Notes on your mirror or dashboard. A reminder to pray on your phone. Be creative...
• Don't stop until you know your friend [or family member] has found a settled peace!

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Isn’t this the kind of friend or family member that you want to be?

Today is another blessing from God! Another opportunity to deepen your commitment to Him! A chance to renew your promise to read a little from the Bible every day. To spend a few quiet moments talking to Your Heavenly Father. Deepening the relationship that does more for you than any other!

If you’re not a person that others turn to for prayer – YOU CAN BE!

What are you going to do about it?