After attending secular public school from kindergarten all through high school, attending a Christian college offered a variety of changes not only in academics and relationships. Looking back on my freshman year, the biggest change I found was the amount of prayer. After not technically being allowed to publicly pray in public school, bowing my head and praying with the rest of my class, and with the rest of the school was a very large change, but that was not the biggest change. It was the asking for prayer requests that I found to be the biggest, and probably best change of them all. After doing that for a year, I have found the sharing of prayer requests to be a beautiful and vital part of building relationships.

When one thinks of the importance of prayer requests, it is likely that the first call to mind would be the power of prayer. Yes, prayer is powerful. Many of us have heard all of the testimonies of prayers being answered in wonderful ways or of miracles. Miracles by Eric Metaxas offers an abundance of testimonies regarding the power of prayer. However the power of God and prayer is not this article’s focus. The focus is on the importance and benefits of sharing prayer requests.

1. Sharing prayer requests increases connection

We live in an age where upon being asked how you are, almost everyone says, “Good”. Rarely will you hear anyone say, “Terrible” even if that is what someone feels. This does not lead to actually knowing people better. It just leads to false politeness. This does not increase connection with fellow people. When we share prayer requests, unless they are praise items, they are typically real answers of what is going on in people’s lives. It allows us to actually begin to know one another.

2. It is honest and close

On our Wednesday team meetings on my swim team, we have an opportunity to pray for one another, and when we share what we need prayer for, I realized that none of us our untouched from hardship. Sickness, accidents, and hurt will wreck havoc in every family. Sharing needs for prayer allows for one to see that we are not as removed from pain as we may think we are. This gives us a better glimpse at the human condition. It also allows us to see what affects everyone.

3. It requires vulnerability

It takes courage to admit to someone that something is wrong with your life to people who may easily appear that they all have their act together. Requesting prayer requires the ability to be vulnerable with other people. This vulnerability brings people closer together, and allows for more trust and sharing in relationships.

“How can I pray for you?” is a much better question to know how someone is than the question, “How are you?” Prayer not only brings you closer to God, but it brings you closer to people as well.