Sometimes it starts with seeing a need

Who do you pray for?

I have a typical list of people I pray for. And then I have the people I pray for by circumstance and situation — it’s more like a blanket prayer.

And then there are people I pray for that for some inexplicable reason they are on my heart. Of course, I can explain it. It isn’t inexplicable, it’s just that God put them on my heart for some reason.

I often know precious little about them or their situation. And, as I mentioned before, I don’t need to know the situation. I don’t even need to know them. My prayer isn’t a cop out for not physically doing something for them. It is doing something.

It isn’t a last resort, it’s a first resort.

In my opinion, praying for someone is a high honor. Saying their name before God and asking Him to protect them or provide for them in their need is important.

Who do you know that may not have anyone praying for them? In addition to your regular prayers, add them to your list. If you have a perspective to see their need — even if you are wrong about that — if you are moved to pray for them, do it!

This doesn’t mean you won’t ever take other action on behalf of that person or others. But, I believe that in the praying not only are you interceding for them, God is using your responsiveness to make you more aware of the needs of others. Who knows? He may be growing something inside of you that is an angle that He would like you to pursue.

Sometimes it starts with seeing a need.

By Situation

Sometimes you might notice that a lot of people in your world are struggling with similar things. Or there is something big happening in the world.

Present those people to God by situation.

You probably already do this. I mentioned yesterday that sometimes we drive by an accident and we have no idea who is involved. But you can be sure God does.

And when you know of big things happening in your community, state. country, or our world it is easy to think we have so little to offer. But I would like to challenge that. Of course, prayer is the first place we should turn to. Interceding for situations — whether they are within our reach are not — should always be our first step of action.

Then, as we bring the circumstances before God, He may give you ideas about how you can go beyond the intercession and contribute tangibly to the solution. Sometimes we are encouraged to take the next step and make a donation of money/goods or we might decide to volunteer for a day, a season, or a year. It’s hard to say. There are so many ways for us to serve. I believe God puts things on our hearts and then He is happy to help us discern our next moves.

As I think about bigger situations, and my goodness, there are a lot of them happening now with war and wildfires and outbreaks and so much division on so many levels.

I pray for the leadership of the bigger situations, whether or not I agree with them. I pray for God to work through the circumstances so people can see His provision and recognize God for who He is and to become aware of their contribution to the problem.

I pray for those who are decision makers to be humble and to really take stock in what they are doing (or not doing) for the good of the people.

And, I pray that those with their hands in the situation will have a moment where they really see God has loved them all along and that He desires for them to know the Truth.

What situations are heavy on your heart right now? Go straight to God with them — even if you don’t know what to say. I often will pray for peace – even though I have no idea what it will take for the circumstance to reach peace. God knows. And I know He has been working on it. He sees the much bigger picture. He sees these situations through the eyes of generations. I get glimpses of that when I read the Bible and see how many years people were in captivity and how many years they wandered in the dessert. Some things take a long time to come to fruition.

We are in a world that is full of sin and selfishness. My own included. Taking time to intercede for bigger situations helps me remember that life isn’t all about me. There is a bigger world out there that needs our prayers!

Heavenly Father…

Please be with those we know who are struggling with physical and mental illness. Please be with the doctors as they diagnose and treat. Please be with the patient as their bodies and minds respond to the medication and therapy and head towards healing. Please be with friends and family members who love and support and encourage the patient.

We ask for Your love and compassion to be poured out on those who are learning that their condition is incurable. May they find comfort in You and, if they don’t know You, may they be drawn to You. May we find ways to be of service to those who are walking this road in our circle.

Only You know the number of our days. May we have courage to share our faith in You when we are in a position to, entrusting those we love into Your care and continue to intercede for them even if their hearts are not ready to receive You. May we never grow weary of interceding for others. Give us eyes to see the needs of those around us.

Amen.