A dear friend of mine told me this story several years ago that has forever changed the way that I think about prayer. She was interviewing for a new job in her field of interest. She is a Christian and her potential new boss was one as well. At the end of her interview, her prospective boss said with the following sentence. I will endeavor to pray for you.
Now at face value this may not mean anything different than I’ll pray for you but let’s delve into the meaning of endeavor. Endeavor means to try hard to achieve something. Her boss – yes she got the job at the time – was telling her that he’d try to pray for her. What an honest answer. How many times have you told someone, “Oh, I’ll pray for you” and not done it. I know I have.
I’m a bigger believer in the power of prayer and that God answers prayers – even though sometimes the answer is no. I heard somewhere that 100% of unasked prayers don’t get answered. I want to be the type of person when I say I’ll pray for you, I follow through and do it
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit to pray for and with people. About a week ago, I ran into a friend at Walmart. I asked her how she was doing and she shared her heart with me and some seemingly overwhelming circumstances. I asked her if I could pray for her right there and then. I mean come on, people have done much weirder things in Walmart. Why can’t prayer be one of them?! We prayed in the center aisle as carts went passed us. She shared with me last week that the prayers we prayed got answered.
A couple months ago, I went to a concert out of state and sat next to a girl who was about my age that I didn’t know. We struck up a conversation and I heard that still small voice saying, “pray for her”. My first thought was WHAT? I don’t even know this girl! What if she gets weirded out by me, what if she says no, etc. But I wanted to be obedient. I prayed with her during intermission in the front row of the concert. Tearfully, she thanked me and said she appreciated my timely words. The next day my husband and I ran into her at a restaurant and had lunch with her. We shared our hearts and beliefs with one another. I can now call her a friend who is a true kindred spirit.
Have I always prayed for people every single time I thought of them or face to face with them when they shared difficulties in their lives with me? No. But I have grown more accustomed to doing that overtime and felt less awkward when I ask them if they want to pray. The worst thing they can say is no and I don’t think I’ve ever asked someone to pray that has said no. If anything my prayer life has become more habitual overtime as I exercise my “prayer muscles”. My prayers aren’t always crazy or long but they are always heartfelt.
I encourage you to exercise your “prayer muscles” and pray for somebody that comes to your mind over the next week or with somebody when you have a nudging in your spirit too. It’s amazing the things that prayer can do.
Do you have any prayer stories that you want to share? Whether you were leading the prayer or being prayed for, I’d love to hear them. Comment below!!