How Can I Pray For You?

Something that I notice in most of Paul’s letters, is that he tells his recipients that he’s been praying for them.

1. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,  always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, – Philippians 1:3-4
2. I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. – Ephesians 1:16
3. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you – Colossians 1:3
4. remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 1:3

I think this is a wonderful thing that Paul does. Not only is he praying for these people, but he’s telling them he’s praying for them. I know from personal experience the love and appreciation I feel when someone tells me that they’ve been praying for me. And, my encouragement for us today, is to be a people who do the same exact thing. Let’s pray for others, and also tell them we’re praying for them!

A PROPER HEART CHECK

Now I want to be clear here. We are commanded to pray for one another as Christians, but not commanded to necessarily tell them we are. There is a danger in doing so. If we are not careful we risk becoming like the Pharisees who flaunted their “holiness.” So when we go about our lives, and are asking people how we can pray for them specifically, and/or telling them we’ve been praying for them, we need to make sure we’re doing this for the right reasons. 

Are we doing these things to appear holier than others? Are we doing it for man’s approval? Or are we doing it because we genuinely want to encourage others around us? My charge to us all is to pray for one another, and ask how we can pray for one another, and yes, tell them we’ve been praying for them. But, not doing so in a way that we can get approval or praise. Instead, doing so because we truly want to encourage and uplift those around. So let’s start by examining our hearts to make sure we’re doing this for the right reasons.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Now, as I have previously mentioned, I know from firsthand experience the comfort, peace, love, etc… that I feel when someone tells me they’re praying for me, and asks for specific ways that they can be praying. I’ve seen those same emotions in others as I’ve asked them the same question.

Many people in today’s culture are feeling isolated, alone, down on their luck, and/or at a complete loss on what to do. And so when someone in brotherly/sisterly love goes out of their way to say like Paul, “Hey I’ve been praying for you lately; just want you to know that I love you and care about you” it serves as a comfort to their spirit. Additionally, everyone is going through and/or struggling with something, and your encouragement through prayer may be just what they need to hear.  

God wants to work through our prayers, so get to praying!

SO WHAT DO I DO?

So here’s my challenge for you: get to praying. Get to encouraging those around you. Right now, text a handful of people and ask how you can be praying for them. Beyond that, let people know that you’re praying for them, and that you love them. I promise you that you will be serving as a great encouragement to that person’s soul. Let’s do these things not for our glory and the appearance of alleged holiness. But because we deeply love our brothers and sisters in Christ, and want them to flourish in Christlikeness.

How can I be praying for you today?