The Importance of Praying for People

 I still remember in church when there was a call for prayer requests, we had one precious elderly lady that would always request prayer for her lost loved ones.

She was faithful in that request.  Sure, it was a very general prayer request, but it was one that was very important and personal to her.

I pray for everyone in my life.  I don't go around advertising it, but I pray for them regardless. 

So why do we pray for people?  The main thing we should pray is that people will have their own experience with Jesus Christ.  Then, if we know of any specific needs, pray for them.

We can't get weary in praying for people.  Just because we don't see anything happening or evidence that our prayers are being answered doesn't mean that we should give up.  Keep praying.  You and I may be the only people praying for them.  It shouldn't ever matter if people know that you are praying.  For me, I don't need the credit or recognition.  If God does it, it's for Him - not me.  That's the most important thing!

If someone asks me to pray for a specific need in their lives, I take it seriously and I will pray.   I have never been one of those people who gave an obligatory "I'll pray for you" as I leave and then never pray.  I take prayer seriously and I take people's needs seriously.  If someone places their trust and confidence in me to pray for them, I will pray.  I don't play around with prayer.

I pray even if I never see the results or even if the answer goes in the opposite what that I am praying.  I present the request to God and then it's in his hands.  Yes, I have even prayed for people to be healed but they have died.  Those prayer results are hard to take and if you don't have a strong faith in God then it will throw you for a loop.   The faith isn't in MY prayer, but my faith is in what God will do.  

Don't give up on people.  Keep praying.  Absolutely nothing is wasted when we pray.  Praying for people is the purest form of love for someone else even if they don't know it.  The Bible says that Jesus is our advocate with the Father.  We bring our petitions to Him but it's not going to be our convincing words or how fancy we pray.  I have known people who pray loud prayers and speak in tongues but the only thing that God needs is our sincere heart.  

Praying for others demonstrates love, compassion, and a desire for their well-being.  It also invites God's intervention in their lives, whether for healing, guidance, or comfort.  Through prayer, we can support and uplift those around us in their struggles and needs.

Where is God in the Bad Dreams?

I had a very disturbing dream last night.  I know we all have dreams both good and bad, but this one was really troubling to me, and I don't know what to think.

You see, I always invite God to speak to me at night during my sleep because the Bible says He does that and will do that.  He never does.  Instead, I get the very opposite of what I ask for.  I'm not very happy today and I don't understand God at all.  

Is He testing me?

This is proof to you that I am not a super Christian.  Never claimed to be that.  I'm human just like everyone else.  

Still...I don't understand this.  So many times, I have invited God to visit with me at night and He doesn't.  Perhaps I make too much about this.  I know it's "just" a dream but it's tormenting me today.  I don't know what to do with this.

So here I am... the one that writes about having a relationship with God yet I'm having a strained relationship today.    I won't lie, it messes with the faith and trust issues.  

How do I manage this today?  My feelings are scrambled, and my faith has taken a hit.  

Do I give up on this nonsense?  Absolutely not.  Even in my mixed-up feelings right now I never give up and I don't think it to be nonsense.  There has to be a reason for this.  I woke up venting to God about this.  I can't help feeling hurt right now.  

So, what are the answers I have right now about this?

#1 - It is a test.  The troubling dream brings up things I must guard against.  Maybe it is a warning or just something to stretch me a bit.

#2 - Maybe God has nothing to do with it.  The enemy can also mess with your head too.  Could be some sort of spiritual warfare going on in my spirit at night.

#3 - Realize that God does what He wants to do when He wants to do it.   

The important thing to do right now is just to not panic and just let it pass.  Many times, the first hours after a disturbing dream are the hardest but then it subsides.  That's what I need to do right now.  Just because I don't understand God doesn't mean I can't trust Him.

So, what gives me the idea that God speaks in dreams?

Job 33:14-15

For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.  He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.

Joel 2:28

God says that He will pour out his spirit on all people, and that the old will dream dreams and the young will see visions.

Numbers 12:6

And He said, "Hear my words:  If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.

Daniel 7:1

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions in his head as he lay in his bed.  Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.

So, there IS documentation that God does, indeed, do this.  But, again, He's God.  He chooses what He wants to do.  I may not understand it, but I have to believe He would have a purpose in this.

When I Prayed For God To Raise The Dead

I was 15 years old and in the bed when the phone rang.  My mother answered.  I could hear her side of the conversation and knew it was bad.  My dad rushed out.  I will never forget that night or what I overheard.  Two girls - who were also sisters - in our youth group were killed in an automobile accident.  We were in total shock.  My dad had rushed to be with the family.  A few days later he preached their funerals.

This was the first time that I had been personally affected by death and grief.  

You find out just how strong your faith is when something like that happens.  I was young and still trying to figure things out about my own relationship with God.  I knew church but I was still learning about God.

I prayed that God would raise the two girls from the dead.  I believed He could.  I earnestly prayed for the girls to come back.  I had heard many sermons about how God raised people from the dead so why not then?  I know it sounds silly but I was young and naive but I still believed. 

There was a lot I didn't understand about God then.  Could He have brought the girls back?  Sure He could have.  Did it change my faith?  It did.  I eventually learned that we can pray for things and believe God but that doesn't mean He will answer our prayers in the way we are expecting.  That's a difficult lesson to learn. 

I know how painful it is when you pray for something that you want but not get it the way you wanted it.  I have prayed for people to be healed but they still died.  Honestly you wonder sometimes if it really makes any difference to pray about anything.  Some pray like they are in a courtroom and trying to convince God to decide in their favor.  I have known many people who felt that the louder they prayed the better chances that their prayers would be answered.  Well, God is not swayed by convincing arguments and He's not deaf.  

So why pray?

Prayer is not a list of requests.  It is about communion with God.  He wants a relationship with us.  Would you want a friend that only wanted to ask you to do things for them?  I don't think that would be a good basis for a relationship.  

So should we ask God for things?  Yes, He wants us to ask but it has to be more than that.  It still isn't easy when He doesn't answer our prayers but we have to understand that our ways aren't always God's ways.  Sure, I believe in the impossible and that God can answer prayers but I also understand that it has to align with God's will.  We should pray and trust God - even raising the dead - and leave the results to Him.