This is a repost fro September 2010. Last night on Facebook, a friend of mine talked about this very thing so I thought it was fitting to post this again.
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you..." Ephesians 1:18
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16
Today I am going to let you in on a little secret of mine. For many years when someone would ask me to pray for them...well...I didn't! I feel horrible, but yes, that is the honest truth. It was never that I purposely did not pray for them but I would forget or become distracted and simply not say a prayer for them. I can be very forgetful. As a matter of fact, if it is not written down for me to clearly see I will not give it another thought.
Then one day several years ago, I realized what if others did that with my requests for prayer? I asked for prayer from family and friends on many occasions. What if they forgot about me the way I forgot about them. That hit me hard. I knew it was time to do something different. Now every time someone asks for prayer, whether I receive a call or text, someone asks for prayer at church or Bible study, or I see a request on facebook, however I receive a prayer request, I take a moment right then and there to pray. Even if I only have a second, I say a prayer. Then I write the prayer request down to continue praying for that need. Doing it this way has helped me to pray for others. And when I pray for others, I am truly blessed! I love praying for others and I love seeing God work in the lives of His people.If you are like me, extremely forgetful, or too busy or whatever your reason is, I want to encourage you to find a way to pray for others. Take a moment and pray right when you hear of a need. Keep a small notebook or post-it pad with you and write the request down to pray later. Whatever works best for you, just make sure you are praying for others. As you lift others in prayer, I promise you will be blessed!
Sweet Blessings~
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What a wonderful tip! I know that I have forgotten to pray when asked. This was a very humble post and very much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
I too have been guilty of this and I am ashamed of it. I realized one night that I had forgotten what a certain prayer request was so I just gave it to the Lord and told Him I knew He knew what the request had been and I just gave it up to Him. I also have started trying to say a prayer when I am asked to pray for someone. Thanks for a great post and blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteI've had this same thought and that's what encouraged me to really pray for others. If I have a need, I really want people to pray for me. So when I receive a request, I want to really pray for them. Because I know that prayer changes things. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI have been there too... and I stop often in the moment and pray for them on the spot or just like you I have to write it down. Also, when I'm driving, in the shower, cleaning or whatever when someone comes to mind spontaneously I say a quick prayer for that person. I would guess that we have all been guilty of this :) great post!
ReplyDeleteI've been doing the same thing lately Jenifer, as I've been guilty more than once about neglecting a prayer request.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder!
Have a Blessed Day!
So true! For years I would ask, and then forget to pray. Now, I pray as soon as I hear/read the request, and I'm working on writing the prayer requests down so I can continue to pray over them!
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed to say that I have done that, I keep saying I will get around to it then I forget. I have now made it a habit to stop what I am doing and pray, it only takes a few minutes. Not only am praying for the other person, but what I get in return in ten fold.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you.
I think we have all done that at times. I know that I forget easily. I had a blind granddaughter that waw in the PICU at Primary Children's hospital for 6 month. We had many days of fasting and prayer for her. Many people from different faiths would say that they would pray for her. I like to think that most of them did do that. She is a miracle through faith and prayers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder to learn to remember and when you promise someone you will pray that you will do just that.
Blessings to you!
Hello, I found you through another's blog. I do this too. I was impressed years ago with a friend of mine, noticing every time she was asked to pray about someone or something, she took their hands right then and prayed. I took up that same way and it has been such a blessing!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to "meet" you here:)
I find it the easiest just to say a prayer right when I hear the request. Sometimes I write it down too if it's something I want to continue to pray about!
ReplyDeleteKristin, I am so glad you stopped by. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI used to be so glad to say I would do it and then like you were, I would forget...just get too busy or whatever! Don't know when exactly that changed, but I am doing much better now. I also pray for that person immediately and that does help tremendously.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Cindy
Convicting... thank you!
ReplyDeleteWondering... since you like sharing what God is teaching you, would you be willing to link up on friday for Brag on God Friday's? I would love for more women to get to hear from you.
Hi Jenifer. I found your blog whilst blog-hopping and I'm glad I did. I do the same thing, say I'll pray and then forget, and as a new blogger I made a tag on my blog where I put the people I say I will pray for and every time I blog I go there and pray, so I wont forget. Excellent post. Good practical advice. Looking forward to more great posts.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
Laura, thank you for the offer. I will check it out.
ReplyDeleteTracy, so glad you stopped by! Blessings.
Came across your blog for the first time today through Living Well Wednesday. Thought I would share about our "Prayer Jar" - Its a ceramic jar with a bible verse an flowers painted on it, but have seen others just just plain mason jars ... any container works I guess. We mostly have names of those we know written on post-it notes in our prayer jar (which sits on the kitchen counter by the toaster), so in the mornings we can pull out a name and be praying for that person or family. But lately as I've heard specific prayer requests I've jotted those down too and put in there.
ReplyDeleteIts helped me remember to pray for certain people or thing my brain accidentally forgot about :-)
Could I request a prayer from you? We've suffered our 4th miscarriage recently and just feel so broken. We cling to the sweet Lord and know his promises are true, but we are in need of uplifting. Thank you
@Our Family, that is a wonderful idea! I may have to give that a try! Thanks. I am praying God's peace and comfort for you and your family. We don't know why miscarriages happen. For some reason God wanted your precious little ones in Heaven with Him. I will be praying for you. Blessings.
ReplyDelete