I have a list with the names of family, friends and acquaintances in my prayer journal.
I began talking to the Lord about the different names on that list this morning. Some of you I know have personal needs and so I was praying about those. But then I came to some of your names and I didn’t know what particular need there is in your life.
As I was hesitating in what to pray I felt the Lord say “It’s ok. You know their names, I know their needs.” I love that about God. He knows all about us.
“When you pray, do not say the same thing over and over again making long prayers like the people who do not know God. They think they are heard because their prayers are long. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. ” Matthew 6:7-8 NLV
Look at the Apostle Paul. In the letters that he wrote to the different churches he always let them know that he was praying for them.
“ I thank God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3
“ In our prayers we always thank God for you. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 1:3
As I said, sometimes we know how to pray for a specific need and other times we just need to let the Holy Spirit direct our prayers because we lack the understanding for what is needed.
“Also, the Spirit helps us. We are very weak, but the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. He begs God for us, speaking to him with feelings too deep for words. 27 God already knows our deepest thoughts. And he understands what the Spirit is saying, because the Spirit speaks for his people in the way that agrees with what God wants.” Romans 8:26-28 ERV
A couple weeks back I had sent a friend a text early in the morning to tell her that I was praying for her. She responded back and gave me some specific needs that were immediate.
We were in the truck and on our way to an area where there was no cell service. Her text was the last that came in for several hours. I was disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to tell her that I was now praying specifically for those needs.
The Lord reminded me that although I couldn’t communicate with her that I could certainly pray on her behalf and that He wasn’t limited by a weak cell signal. He was moving to meet her needs.
God is so good!
What a privilege it is to pray for others. What a joy it is to know that our God isn’t deaf but He hears and answers our prayers.
” I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God. I write so that you will know that you have eternal life now. 14 We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. 15 He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him.” I John 5:13-15 ERV
We have God’s word so we know what He wants for us and we can pray for those things to come about in our lives and the lives of our friends and family. We can even join in prayer for those we don’t know personally. Again, all we may know is a name but God knows their need.
Jesus is our example for life. He took every spare moment to pray. The night he was arrested and taken to be crucified He was in the garden praying. He was praying for himself and his followers and he was praying for us too.
“I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching.” John 17:20 ERV
We are those who have believed because of the teaching of His disciples. Jesus prayed for us and now that He is in heaven He continues to intercede on our behalf.
Prayer is conversation with the Father. When someone we know or love comes to mind let’s talk to the Father about them.
Remember, we know their name and He knows their need.