Pray for One Another

"We can do nothing, we say sometimes, we can only pray. That, we feel, is a terribly precarious second-best. So long as we can fuss and work and rush about, so long as we can lend a hand, we have some hope; but if we have to fall back upon God — ah, then things must be critical indeed!" — A. J. Gossip

I hate to confess, but I catch myself in this position far more than I should be. Maybe you have been here as well. Someone is sick or going through a difficult time, and you ask them what you can do. Then they say something to the effect of: pray for us. I will do that or have been doing that, but is there something else I can do to help? Maybe it is because I do not believe in the power of prayer. Maybe it is because I want to do something to receive glory. Maybe it is because when I do something, I feel useful. Praying does not mow their yard, cook their meal, or any other number of things that need to be done. Let me encourage you to help mow or cook or whatever they need. Our love should show itself. But never let us think mowing a yard or fixing a green bean casserole compares to carrying someone’s name before the God of the universe.

I believe in the power of prayer because I believe in the power of the One we pray to. The Bible tells us over and over of the power of God. Whether it is the creation of the world or the resurrection of Jesus, we see God’s power over and over. Prayer is a direct appeal to the greatest power that has ever existed. He can do more than all we ask, think, or imagine. Does He always give me exactly what I ask for? No, He loves me too much to do that. The greatest thing you can do for someone is carry their name before the throne of God (Ephesians 6:18-19).