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We have all sat through the Church morning announcements and heard the prayer requests read aloud. Some of us jot them down only to forget them as soon as we leave the church, some of us take that list to study every day and some of us make a mental note declaring we won’t forget them only to never think of the prayer requests again. Often times we simply forget the importance of praying for other Christians.
Prayer is a Christian’s first line of communication with God himself. It’s like our own personal phone line to express those things that are going on around us. Of course, prayer shouldn’t only be used to complain or ask for things. In fact, prayer should also express our love and gratitude to our creator. Focus on the Family explains prayer well when it stated:
So what is prayer? Prayer is a relationship, wherein we humbly communicate, worship, and sincerely seek God’s face, knowing that He hears us, loves us and will respond, though not always in a manner we may expect or desire. Prayer can encompass confession, praise, adoration, supplication, intercession and more.
Prayer is intimate.
Prayer causes us to focus on God.
Prayer allows us to see glimpses of God in our day to day lives.
Prayer also reminds us that we are loved and we should love.
When we take the time to pray for other Christians something world changing happens. We begin to connect with that person just like we connect with God. We grow to love them the way Christ loves them, we begin to invest in that individual and we begin to strive to help them in a sincere way. Praying for other Christians also allows God to reveal to us ways that He can work through us to help them. In our Colossians reading this week the verses that spoke the most to me were:
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, Colossians 1:9-11
The early church faced so much ridicule and persecution. They lived in a time when things seemed so uncertain for them and in honestly they couldn’t even proclaim their love for Christ out in the open without a little fear that they would be killed. (Starting to sound a lot the direction our world is moving toward now) Though Paul, himself was facing his own problems still he prayed for other fellow Christians.
I can’t help but think the early church’s faithfulness to prayer for each other played a huge part in the bond that they shared and helped spread Christianity like a wildfire. They had formed an amazing relationship with each other and it all started with praying for and with each other. Being concerned with each other’s spiritual growth and their particular mission that God had them on.
Prayer changes relationships because it causes action.
Prayer changes relationships because it demands emotions to get involved.
Prayer changes relationships because it causes you to be connected.
Prayer changes relationships because it causes us to open our hearts.
So the next time you are given a prayer request brace yourselves. Praying for other Christians will not only lift them up but it will cause changes in you.
Until Next Time Just Keep Soaring 4 Him,
I would like to invite you to my Facebook group Christian Homemakers in Training where we dive into homemaking, motherhood, marriage and group devotions. After all, we all need a safe place to grow together, right?
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