I'll Pray For You
In times of turmoil, we often hear or say, "I'll pray for you." It's said so much, by so many, I wonder if we've lost the point. It's like saying, "God Bless You" when someone sneezes. Do we really make a concentrated effort, take the time, and get down on our knees and pray for this person, asking God to Bless them or asking God to intervene in their lives for this problem?
I'd say if we don't, it's just so much bla bla bla. It's alright to offer up quick prayer in the middle of something, in immediate need, or as we are involved doing other things. BUT, offering condolences and blessings in word and not in deed is not the Christian's marching orders. If we are just mouthing the words and not setting our mind and heart in conversation with God, what are we really trying to accomplish? Do you think God is sitting up there just marking our "effort" as a job accomplished?
Do you have employees who always volunteer to help, say they are doing such and such, but you never see the results? It's frustrating and does nothing for the bottom line. Empty prayer offers are the same. You, as a supervisor, lead by example. We could substitute any number of words in place of supervisor: father, deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, independent business person, board member, owner, consumer, and most anything that fits you personally. You, as a Christian, lead by example.
When I know a follow-through Christian is actually going to pray for me ~ it builds my store house of strength. It consoles me. I have a Christian friend who actually has a legal pad and writes every single "I'll pray for you" down and prays every night before she goes to bed. She does this every single day until that issue is resolved. God Bless my friend, she knows the heart of God is touched by our sincere prayers. I know when I entrust myself to her in prayer, she'll keep her word.
If you say "I'll pray for you" or I'll keep you in my prayers", either do it or don't say you will. The prayer is for the other person but it is also for your own relationship with God. He wants a person working for Him that is good to his/her word. He wants the requested prayer topic to be a conversation with Him; not idle empty thoughts or promises. He wants you to come to Him KNOWING He cares.
Psalm 66: 17-20 "I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: but verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."
You were given the Blessing of prayer by a Father who listens and cares ~ use it wisely.
I'd say if we don't, it's just so much bla bla bla. It's alright to offer up quick prayer in the middle of something, in immediate need, or as we are involved doing other things. BUT, offering condolences and blessings in word and not in deed is not the Christian's marching orders. If we are just mouthing the words and not setting our mind and heart in conversation with God, what are we really trying to accomplish? Do you think God is sitting up there just marking our "effort" as a job accomplished?
Do you have employees who always volunteer to help, say they are doing such and such, but you never see the results? It's frustrating and does nothing for the bottom line. Empty prayer offers are the same. You, as a supervisor, lead by example. We could substitute any number of words in place of supervisor: father, deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, independent business person, board member, owner, consumer, and most anything that fits you personally. You, as a Christian, lead by example.
When I know a follow-through Christian is actually going to pray for me ~ it builds my store house of strength. It consoles me. I have a Christian friend who actually has a legal pad and writes every single "I'll pray for you" down and prays every night before she goes to bed. She does this every single day until that issue is resolved. God Bless my friend, she knows the heart of God is touched by our sincere prayers. I know when I entrust myself to her in prayer, she'll keep her word.
If you say "I'll pray for you" or I'll keep you in my prayers", either do it or don't say you will. The prayer is for the other person but it is also for your own relationship with God. He wants a person working for Him that is good to his/her word. He wants the requested prayer topic to be a conversation with Him; not idle empty thoughts or promises. He wants you to come to Him KNOWING He cares.
Psalm 66: 17-20 "I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: but verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."
You were given the Blessing of prayer by a Father who listens and cares ~ use it wisely.
posted by Diane Gibson at
11:59 AM
