How many times has someone told you that they're praying for you? Maybe you posted something on social media in hopes to receive prayer or maybe you reached out to your small group confident that they'll turn to God. I hear people all the time say, "I'll be praying for you," but have you ever stopped and wondered if they really are? If that person actually stops and specifically devotes time to your needs?
I know too often do I catch myself saying that I'll pray for someone, but never actually devote time to doing so. Yet, it's almost expected for your loved ones to respond by saying "I'm praying for you." Writing the quick comment back or making the short remark is easy, but the devotion isn't so much. Often we forget to what we have committed to and sometimes, quite frankly we could care less. We might care about the person and hate what they're going through, but we don't care about taking it to God. In today's society, it's almost like we have forgotten to trust in God. Greeting Him with other people's prayer request just doesn't seem worth it. He's probably not going to show up and if He does we probably won't notice, right? Wrong!
Matthew 21:22 promises us, "whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." This verse tells us that all we have to do is two simple things. First, we must "Ask in prayer." We have to turn to him with our desires and our needs. Secondly, we must "Have faith." What good are our prayers, if we don't leave room for God to work? We must pray boldly and expectantly. That quick, "God, I pray for so-and-so," doesn't mean anything if you are praying it just because you are supposed to. We shouldn't pray half-heartedly. We need to pray like we mean it.
Next time you find yourself saying, "I'll pray for you," say it expectantly. Pray with confidence and hope; God will show up.
More verses dealing with the power of prayer:
Psalm 107:28-30: Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven
Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mark 11:24: Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
John 14:13-14: Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it
Mark 9:29: And [Jesus] said to them, “This kind [foul spirit] cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Acts 9:40: But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
