When We Are Praying For Others …

“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2)

Just hearing the words spoken to us “I am praying for you …” can be a great comfort … even to the point of reassurance in knowing that someone is remembering us and taking our name before the “throne of God.” (Hebrews 4:16)

When you study the inspired writings of the Apostle Paul it becomes obvious very quickly that he prayed often … and he prayed for all of his brethren regularly. (2 Corinthians 11:28)

He was diligent in letting each of the congregations know that he was praying for each of them.  What comfort this must have been to those brethren and what an example!

Regardless of the miles that might exist between us … just knowing someone is taking our name before “the throne of God” is so comforting, uplifting, and is always much-needed!  Right?  Right!

I welcome every opportunity to pray for anyone that I might observe or know that is in need.  It is not enough to simply say “I am praying for you”… the words offered need to be acted upon!

We must never underestimate the power, the privilege, the encouragement of prayer … talking to the Lord … in supplication and fervency we come to the Lord asking for Him to comfort, help, and that His will be done in our lives and in those we are praying for.

“We can do nothing”, we say sometimes, “We can only pray.” Only pray?  What a wonderful privilege and blessing it is and I know we many times wish there was more that we could do … but there are times when very simply … this is what we need to do!

No Christian can do everything, but every Christian can do something. And together, we can save more lives and be used to save more souls than ever before. We can pray for each other.

We can pray for others we may not even know personally … we can pray for our country … for good leadership … for peace and harmony in our communities … our homes … our families … our congregations where we worship with one another … and the list could go on.

We can pray for those who are “weak in their faith” … for those who have become “disheartened” … for those who have chosen to walk “the unruly path” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

We can pray for our young people … our older folks … those in-between … the young couple waiting to have a child … the young couple that are now parents raising little ones … for those who are yet single … for those who have lost a spouse … for grandparents.

All … yes … all of these folks need to be remembered in prayer … to have their names taken before the “throne of God.”  Someone might say, “Well, Brother Bill, that’s a lot of names which translates into a lot of time and my memory is not so good!”

My response is easy:  “yes … yes … and no one says you can’t make a list!” God’s people are to be a praying people.

I know this … James tells us by inspiration that there is power in prayers (James 5:16)!  How much is “much”?  We really don’t know but we do know he didn’t say a little or some … he said “MUCH!”

There have been many occasions when a loving and caring Christian has told me directly or through a note that ‘they were taking my name before the throne of God every day!” Thanks to each of these loving and caring brothers and sisters in Christ!

And I can tell you from personal experience that knowing and hearing those words of encouragement have brought me and my family more peace and comfort than all the medicines in the world!

When we approach the throne of God” with “boldness” … we are able to do so because of the relationship we have chosen to accept and surrender to … and it is at this “throne of grace” that we find both “mercy and grace in time of need.” 

The extension of that truth can be shown in our willingness to take another’s name as well in time of their need.  There are problems and struggles … temptations and trials … times of adversity and health challenges … broken friendships and relationships … the times we lose to death someone that we love … for each of us … the Lord never promised otherwise!

But the Lord will provide the strength and the means to see us through whatever lies before us … but only by looking to Him as “the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

“Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

 

Bill Fairchild, Jr.

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One Response to “When We Are Praying For Others …”

  1. Danny Hogan February 2, 2022 at 1:01 am # Reply

    Thanks Bill for your comments on prayers. We all need to pray more especially for the lost we are in contact with. Take care hope to see you guy’s soon.

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