By F. D. Adkins
“Will you pray for me?”
“Would you pray about _______?”
These are not requests to be taken lightly. In actuality, a prayer request brings with it a high level of responsibility.
This week, I continued my Bible study in the book of Acts, and I want to share something in particular that stood out to me in Chapter Twelve when Herod had Peter put in prison. Acts 12:5 says, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” I want to point out that the whole church prayed, not just one person. In addition, the church did not utter a quick, recited prayer. They prayed without ceasing.
What happened? In verses 6 through 9, we are told that Peter’s chains fell off, and an angel appeared to Peter and led him out of the prison.
Friends, the Bible tells us that there is power in praying together. “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20 KJV.
That is exactly what happened in Acts 12. A group of people, connected through their love of Christ, went to God with the same request. And the people in this group that prayed did not just utter empty words from their lips. Matthew 18:19 KJV uses the word, “agree”. To me, this word in the context of the verse means that they truly wanted what they are asking. They were praying from their hearts, and all of their hearts had the same burden. They were unified as one body… the body of Christ.
So, when we are asked to pray about something, we should not just verbalize the person’s request to God. We should connect our hearts to that person’s need and help them lift it up to our Heavenly Father.
My final thoughts:
- When given a prayer request, I want to stop right then and talk to God from my heart about that need.
- I want to continue praying about that need (without ceasing).
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22 KJV
I get asked very often to pray for someone. It’s serious! They are trusting you to take a real need or concern to the Lord in prayer. I try to do this with sincere thoughts and requests to God. Farrah, in this blog expresses how wonderful it is that if all those praying for someone are praying in agreement at the same time for that request that God is listening and will answer according to His Will. I loved this blog!! Thank you Farrah!
I get asked very often to pray for someone. It’s serious! They are trusting you to take a real need or concern to the Lord in prayer. I try to do this with sincere thoughts and requests to God. Farrah, in this blog expresses how wonderful it is that if all those praying for someone are praying in agreement at the same time for that request that God is listening and will answer according to His Will. I loved this blog!! Thank you Farrah!