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Monday, January 13, 2014

When You Say, "I Am Praying For You"...

 
 
 
I've been pondering this sentence quite a bit lately, and as I write this, I realize I've thought about this for years.  When I share a burden with a friend and they reply, "I'm praying for you."  I often think, do they really?  Are we really praying for each other, or do we simply hope things work out.   My husband often says,
 
"We often accuse others of what we are guilty of ourselves." 
 
Ouch. 
 
But I do have to wonder, if I am guilty of telling someone I am praying for them, and then don't, how often do people tell me and later forget to pray.  Telling someone you are going to do something, and don't is a lie, plain and simple.
 
Maybe it's just me, and you all are doing fine in this area.  If so, great.  But I know the Lord has been working in my heart lately to pray.  To stop and pray for people. To be more intentional (my word of the year).   Not a quick, "Dear Lord, please be with so and so, Amen."  No, not anymore.  I stop and put focused time on praying for my friends, even people I don't know if someone asks.
 
When someone shares a prayer request on facebook, I will not reply "praying for you" until I have stopped and prayed for them.  Because I know, that when I shut my computer and go on with my day that I will probably forget. 
 
This verse has been a good reminder to me:
 
"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you:
but I will teach you the good and the right way:"  I Samuel 12:23
 
More thoughts on prayer coming soon.
 
Do you have a prayer request that I can pray for?  Please leave a comment or email, and I promise I will pray for you.
 

 
 
 


5 comments:

Chris and Carole said...

Great Post! I feel the same way. I cannot say I am (or "like" a request) without praying for that specific need.

Rachel said...

I agree, Jen. This is an area I have thought a lot about too.

I try to be very careful about committing to pray and then forgetting to do so. I would rather not say something and remember to pray, then promise to do so and forget.

Thanks for the encouragement to pray intentionally and sincerely.

Lori said...

A friend of mine wrote about this several years ago, and it really burdened me about what I say.

I stopped telling people this because I know how the "will they/are they really?" goes through my head when I ask for prayer and I'm sure it goes through theirs. Instead, I pray right then with them. If I'm online, I type out my prayer for them to read as soon as I read their concern.

Of all the things I can say I'm going to do and then not do it for whatever reason, I don't want praying for someone to be one of those things.

Jennifer said...

A friend encouraged me several years ago, when someone asks for prayer to pray right hen. It makes a difference.

Kadie @ Keeper At Home said...

I understand exactly what you're saying and I feel the same way! I know have an app on my phone that I can jot prayer requests into and I always have them at my fingertips!