A friend recently shared the following true story that illustrates the importance of having others pray for us. A man in his church was riding his bicycle along the side of a road when he was hit by a truck traveling nearly 45 miles per hour. As he was lying there bleeding, in pain and unable to move, some concerned bystanders called for an ambulance. As they waited for the medical team to arrive, the group asked the victim how they could help him. He responded, “Pray for me.” They looked at him as if he was from another planet and backed away uncomfortably.
So the man asked one of them for a mobile phone so he could call one of his close friends. Lying there broken, on the side of the road, he called his friend, who got out the word for others to pray. Within minutes more than two dozen of his friends were praying for him. Later he said that he felt an unexplainable peace sweep over him during that time.
The apostle Paul also asked others to pray for him (1 Thessalonians 5:23-28). Speaking about the difficulties he would likely encounter during a trip back to Jerusalem, Paul wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. . . . Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God” (Romans 15:30-31). In another letter he asked, “Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people” (2 Thessalonians 3:2).
Paul ‘urged’ his fellow Christians to lift him up in prayer because he knew that one of the most important things we can do in a time of need or crisis is to have others intercede for us in prayer.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 6:41-71
More:
Read Ephesians 6:18. Note how often Paul says that we should be praying for others.
Next:
What happens to us and to those who pray for us when we ask for prayer? What will you do to pray more often for others?
tom felten on July 19, 2012 at 9:59 am
Jeff, thanks for this insightful post on prayer. In my life, the prayers of others have made a tremendous impact—both with the knowledge I’ve had of people praying for me as well as the unseen things that have led to God’s work in my life. When I was 17 years old, the car I was driving slipped on the pavement and I slid headfirst into a tree going 70 mph. Somehow, I escaped with minor injuries (although I did wake up in the comatose ward of a hospital!). In the mangled remains of the car, we found a book with the title “What Happens When Women Pray.” My Mom had been reading it . . . and praying for me. Yes, it’s so vital that we pray for one another!
stevenh on July 19, 2012 at 12:54 pm
After reading today’s post, I decided I couldn’t help but comment. About two months ago I was riding my bike home from school when a car, coming from behind, hit the side of one of my handlebars and sent me flying off of my bike. Praise be to God, I ended up with only a broken wrist and a few cuts and bruises. I was worried, however, as my doctor informed me that the bone that was broken had a fairly low rate of full recovery due to lower blood circulation in that part of the wrist. I’ve been playing violin for most of my life and I am using it for school as well as church. It’s a blessing I believe is from God and I really didn’t want to lose it. After lots of prayer, I recently took an x-ray and my doctor said that I will most likely be fine.
Unfortunately, this afternoon I received a letter from an insurance company asking for a few thousand dollars in damages for the car that hit me. It’s money that I (and my parents) don’t have and on top of that, I don’t want to be spending a lot of time trying to figure out legal business and going to court when I have important exams coming up in a couple of weeks (I’m in my final year of school before uni). I know that compared to what other people are facing, my situation isn’t that bad but I also know that God can work in any situation and I pray that he works in and through this.
When I opened the letter and showed it to my parents, my mum told me I should ask my close friends to pray for me but I guess now I’m asking some of the other members of my Christian family to as well. I ask that if possible, people will pray that God will show me his peace and wisdom and help me not to be too stressed as I go through this, that it will be dealt with as quickly and as cheaply as possible so that my school time won’t be too interrupted, that God will help me with my exams (especially because it was my dominant hand that was affected and it has made studying a lot more difficult and time consuming and music assessments impossible), and that God will help me through everything and bring good from this situation.
I believe that pray is just as powerful today as when Paul asked his fellow Christians for support so praise be to God for his love and help in everything we face.
tom felten on July 19, 2012 at 1:18 pm
stevenh, I’m praying for you and I’m sure that many others in the ODJ community are doing the same! May God give you his peace and provide all you need: Philippians 4:19
annieh4 on August 19, 2012 at 7:01 am
Hi Stevenh – God is in control – pass your problems to him in prayer and he will take them away. God gives us these trials for a purpose that we may be stronger and rounder people and I know this will be true for you too. I am saying a prayer for you and your family now that you will be able to hand these problems to God and trust in him to sort them out and at the same time trust him with all of your life.
God Bless you Steven and be with you always.
Jeff Olson on July 19, 2012 at 1:30 pm
stevenh, praying for you too…praying for peace and that God would intervene and make that which is wrong right.
stevenh on July 20, 2012 at 11:09 am
Thank you so much!
carsetta on July 26, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Just finished reading the posts here and was really moved. I have been called to pray for those that have faced trails in the past and was more than happy to do so. Well now I find myself facing a mountain and am praying for healing. I trust God’s will for my life and ask that if you all would pray for me in this time. Thanks and God bless:)
nivla on July 27, 2012 at 5:18 am
praying for you now carsetta. God, in all His abounding grace, bless you. 🙂
carsetta on July 29, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Thank you Nivla and God bless you:)