Asking Others to Pray for Me
How often do you share prayer requests with others?
I went to a prayer meeting tonight and I noticed that lately I’m avoiding asking other people to pray for me. Specifically, for the actual things I’m dealing with that are probably in great need of prayer. I’m grateful that the Lord has opened my eyes to this reality, that I’ve been living with a very closed heart and become selfishly focused on my problems rather than on those in our church who trust us to be praying for them, and anyone else who might be struggling right now as well.
Attending the prayer group had a very unexpected side effect: I was grateful to hear people in our group confess the things that they need prayer for. I don’t want anyone to be sick, or struggling, or have problems. But when other individuals in our church opened up in faith, trusting that we would actually pray their requests, I felt an immense feeling of relief. Maybe it was because my focus was pulled away from me/my problems. But I think even more than that, maybe it was because praying for other believers and other people is an incredible privilege that we must not neglect, but oftentimes do neglect because it is so deeply misunderstood.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16
It made me wonder how often should I be sharing prayer requests with others. I’m not doing it enough now, but how much is enough? How much is too much? I remember when we attended a community that at one point each week they would pass a microphone around for anyone to share prayer requests. Several people were quick to take advantage of every opportunity to share praise and let their requests be known. Whether the requests were brief and factual, or long detailed summaries of the specifics in each request, we’d hear their voices and their updates each week. Some people only shared when there were “big” prayer requests, emergencies, illness, big life events. But many people, so many people, never touched the microphone once. There’s probably a million reasons why they didn’t want to share. Maybe they didn’t have anything they felt needed a corporate prayer response. Maybe they were shy or didn’t want to draw more time away from the progress of service. Or maybe, sadly, they were embarrassed, too private, or didn’t trust the people to actually pray for them. Or worse, maybe they thought it didn’t make any difference.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philip.4:6
No matter what our feelings say about sharing prayer requests within our communities, we are commanded to pray for those in our communities. I personally find it easier to pray for those in our church when I have specifics on what is going on in their lives and in their spiritual walk. The only way I know these details is when they show up and share them with me, or if I ask. Usually, if someone is missing I’ll send a text to check in on them and ask how I can pray for them. When I don’t know what to pray for a person, they usually get a generic prayer for the wellbeing of their spirit and body for the week. Which is a privilege to pray on its own. But being in relationship with one another means that we know what to pray in order to help bear each other’s burdens, grow in our spiritual walk together, and present our praise, needs, and any other matters before the Lord, together.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
If you’re like me lately, and for whatever reason haven’t shared your requests with someone you trust or your church family, remember that it is a blessing to ask them to pray for you. They might feel incredibly grateful that you trust them to bring your matters to the Almighty. Just making your requests known might bring comfort and confidence to others who aren’t sure if they should share until they hear from you.
Photo by Rosie Sun
