something beautiful happens when we spend time in prayer: God shows up.
something powerful happens when we pray for the needs of others: God shows up.
something extraordinary happens when we ask for others to pray for us: God shows up.
there is no denying the power of prayer.
i have spent every Tuesday morning for the past 8 months meeting with friends to read God's Word and pray together. over coffee, and in between "mom talk," we study scripture in depth and discuss God's character at length. chapter by chapter, verse by verse, we dissect words and apply truths to today. and when we've reached the end of the week's chapter, we open our hearts to one another. we confide in each other, revealing our hurts, struggles, or concerns. we share intimate details of our lives. it might be painful or embarrassing, but we put aside our pride and let down our guards. in these last few moments of every Tuesday morning, we get real and ask for prayers.
on the days in between our Tuesday mornings, i remember my sisters and their heart's cries. i pray to God on their behalf, thanking Jesus for His love, and expecting Him to move in their situations. i release it all to the heavens, turning it all over to God. i trust that the next time i see my friends on Tuesday morning, we'll praise God for the works He did in our lives. an overwhelming sense of power and peace washes over me. is it because i'm praying for my sisters? or is it because my sisters are praying for me?
it happens when i check in on Twitter or Facebook, see a prayer request, and get to praying. it happens when i send my own prayers out to friends near and far. it happens when i text my friend Stef urgently and, faithfully, her reply comes buzzing back right away. it happens when a song comes on the radio and reminds me to pray then and there: a powerful, undeniable wave of comfort and peace. our prayers stir up the heavens and God gets to doing what He does.
prayers are powerful. this power in Christ and indescribable, unshakable peace comes from asking for prayer and from praying for others. when we ask for prayer and pray for others, two or more are gathered in His name and God shows up in our midst.
(yes, please.)
how can i pray for you?
Pray for one another so that you might be healed.
The prayer of a godly person is powerful. It makes things happen.
James 5:16
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
John 14:13-14
