I’ll pray for you

I’ve been thinking this week about the seriousness of telling someone else that you will pray for him/her.  When people have told you that they would pray for you, have you ever wondered if they really did?  What if they didn’t?  I’m not saying their intentions weren’t good…

Is the phrase, “I will pray for you,”  just that….. a phrase?

A survey I found online said that only 74% of people who said they would pray for someone else actually did.

I think these words are sometimes used by people who don’t even have a relationship with God.  Can the prayers of a non-Christian matter any way? 

Is saying my thoughts are with you the same as I’ll pray for you.  I don’t think my thoughts will help anything.  However, taking your need to the throne of God and praying can make a difference. 

We should never take prayer lightly.  God hears all our prayers.  Prayer makes a difference.  When you tell someone you will pray for them, that’s like making a promise. 

So, how do we keep our verbal commitment to pray?  I think the best way is to go ahead and pray for that person immediately.  Whatever you are doing, stop, take a minute and pray for that person or situation.

 

What the Word of God says about prayer:

James 5:15  “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”

Romans 12:12  “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Philippians 4:6  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Matthew 21:22  “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Proverbs 15:29  “The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

1 Peter 3:12  “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Ephesians 6:18  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17  “Pray without ceasing.”

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