Let Us Pray

Have you ever considered what a privilege it is to be asked to pray for someone?  It seems that lately my prayer list has grown very long due to requests from friends, and it never ceases to amaze me how interceding on their behalves is a blessing to me.  Yesterday three of the people I have been praying for lately all received significant answers to prayer.  One had a healthy baby, One found a new job. The other received a final "no" on a long standing situation.  There is power in prayer.

Prayer changes things, and not just the people and situations being prayed for. Prayer also changes the prayer.  There was a time in my life when the words "I'll be praying for you" meant that I knew God already knew their need, and since He was in control my actual prayers were not really necessary.  I didn't see that the opportunity to pray was as much for me as for the requester. When someone asks you to go to God in prayer for them, they are giving you the opportunity to step into the presence of God.  How amazing is that? So now, when people ask me if I will pray for them, I do 2 things. I pray then and there, even if they don't know it.  And I add their request to a list I keep and pray for daily.  It is a privilege I do not want to waste.

A number of years ago Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song about prayer that has been very important in my prayer life, as it is a constant reminder of what prayer can and should be.  The lyrics are below: 

LET US PRAY

I hear you say your heart is aching
You've got trouble in the making
And you ask if I'll be praying for you please
And in keeping with conviction
I'll say yes with good intentions
To pray later making mention of your needs
But since we have this moment here at heaven's door
We should start knocking now, what are we waiting for?

CHORUS:
Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
For the Father above, He is listening with love
And He wants to answer us, so let us pray

So when we feel the Spirit moving
Prompting, prodding and behooving
There is no time to be losing, let us pray
Let the Father hear us saying
What we need to be conveying
Even while this song is playing, let us pray
And just because we say the word, "Amen"
It doesn't mean this conversationi needs to end

Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
Let us pray without end and when we finish start again
Like breathing out and breathing in, let us pray

Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence
As our prayers draw us near
To the One who knows our needs
Before we even call His name

Let us pray everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
Let us pray without end and when we finish start again
Like breathing out and breathing in, let us pray...

So please feel free to share you prayer requests with me anytime.  I am honored to be trusted with them, and blessed to take them before the throne of God.  And by all means...pray.  You have been given the opportunity and means to TALK TO GOD!!!!  Don't miss out.

Because of Jesus,