For You I Am Praying …

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV)

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”(James 5:16, NKJV)

It was one of those times where I was truly struggling to keep my head up, my feet from dragging, and my heart from breaking.  I was in the process of treatment for a dreaded and chronic disease that was destroying my liver.

A sister in Christ, one who truly loved the Lord and was diligent in the Kingdom, came up to me and gave me a gentle hug.  She said in a soft tone, words that would serve to carry me through the remainder of that treatment protocol and through a couple of more. Her words were so simple and so profound.  They truly touched my heart and gave me some added strength when I would need it the most.

“What did she say?” you ask.  She said “every day I take your name before the throne of God.”  Powerful words … powerful thoughts … powerful actions … powerful love!

Sometimes we just don’t know what to say to someone who is struggling in life with health issues, family troubles, employment concerns or just life itself and trying to figure it all out.

Sometimes we just don’t know what to do for someone …

Sometimes … well … sometimes we just don’t know …

But at all times we can pray for one another.  Those people mentioned in the Bible as meeting with the Lord’s favor were people who prayed and  talked with Him!  They took the time … they made the time … to talk with God about themselves and others!  The privilege of prayer is such a wonderful treasure and blessing … we must guard against relegating our prayer life to just saying the same old words over and over!

The fact is we must learn how to pray from the heart and to do so humbly yet boldly as the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (ESV)

Kind, genuine, thoughtful and heartfelt words from a good sister in Christ … she will probably never know just how much those words have continued to help me, but my guess is she does because she personally knows their value  We all have our own challenges  don’t we … life is just that way!

Things can change in our lives in a moment … but the God of Heaven never changes and He is always ready to hear our prayers!

The people of God are to be a people that view prayer as being more important than the things with which most of us fill our minds!  The apostle Paul is a wonderful example of one who prayed to God often and who was not shy to let those he was praying for know what he was praying for in their behalf!  “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

When we tell someone that we are praying for them we are committing ourselves to do something for them … we’re promising them that we will lift their name up to God … that we will speak their names directly to the One who is the Creator of us all asking God to be with them … comfort them … heal them if it His will … and to remind them they are loved!

I was reminded of these things that day and will carry the message shared in my heart for the rest of my life!  One more thing … I try with all my heart to pass these truths on to all who will need them!  Will you?  Prayer … folks … can truly make a difference!

 

Bill Fairchild, Jr.

PS:  How’s your Bible study going?

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