We are pressed on every side and this pressure may have caused us to develop “self prayer”. Every prayer is about, “Me, Myself and I an mi two pinkney dem.” (Translated: Praying for only what concerns you.) In these trying (pressuring) times let us on purpose but ourselves aside and remember others in our prayers.
The Apostle Paul has set a good example for us to follow.
- “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers”. (Romans 1:9)
- “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you …” (Colossians 1:3)
- “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;” (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
- “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord …” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
- “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers;” (2 Timothy 1:3)
We are all called to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It cannot be that every time we open our mouths to pray, it is about self.
The Word tells us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. How about “giving” prayer.
When Peter and John saw the lame man at Gate Beautiful (Acts 3) and Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give unto you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” What do you think they did? They prayed for him. And the miracle he waited on for 38 years, happened by someone else praying for him.
Start praying in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth over someone else’s life, over their situation.
The song writer wrote, “We prayed and God delivered. We prayed and God stopped the war. God gave us one more chance.” Our prayers matter! We simply need to move them from self. Our prayers are directions/instructions for God to move. Petition heaven for the widow, orphans, fatherless, leaders, for someone else’s dream, for someone else’s marriage, for someone else’s family. From this day forward, commit to pray asking Him to move on someone else’s behalf.
Many of us quote James 5:16 all the time, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” But the clause that precedes in the very same verse says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” Someone’s deliverance is in your prayer. Someone’s healing is in your prayer.
Consider another popular quote, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The same Peter in Acts 3 that prayed for the lame man, needed prayer in Acts 12 – Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him (v. 5). Would you not want others to be praying for you? Then you do it!
Pray on!
Amen.
The other day while praying I mentioned to God, “Lord, I’m always praying for others, and forgetting about myself, then Lord who prays for me? This wasn’t a complain, bit a question. In this time I was hurting and had so much going on and didn’t have and words to mutter to God about my situation, but he gave me words and a burden for others. I was reminded He has the power to instruct someone to pray or He will. Let is not be selfish, but selfless for God knows our hearts and intent, thus will honour.
Thank you Lord for this communication channel called Prayer that allows us to reach you anytime on behalf of any situation. Help us to expand our prayers for others knowing fully well that others are also praying for us. Just thinking about the great network that prayer can reach is Amazing.