“Brethren, pray for us.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:25
The older I get, the more I need to pray. Furthermore, the older I get, the more I need others to pray for me. Southern Gospel Music pioneer, James D. Vaughan, once penned the words of this song:
I want my friends to pray for me,
Pride can keep us from asking others to pray. Sometimes we see the needs of others and our needs seem to pale in comparison, keeping us from asking for prayer. That is wrong. We need to pray for each other. James wrote, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We are commanded, by Scripture, to be transparent about our needs and seek the prayers of our brothers and sisters.
Why is it important to ask for prayer? First of all, because we need God. Our needs can often seem overwhelming. Situations can be demanding. Life can be stressful. Our burdens can seem too heavy. Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing.” The problems of life remind us of this truth.
Secondly, we are weak. We are mere humans. We have extreme limitations. There are problems we can't solve. There are needs we can't meet. There are conditions we can't improve. We are weak people in dire need of divine help.
Third, God has abundant resources available, many of which are available to those who pray. God has no shortage of blessings. His grace is endless. His mercy is everlasting. The answer to our problems may be one prayer away from being realized.
Next, we need each other. We need our brothers and sisters. If the effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much, how much more when we pray together about a need? There are many things I can't do. I can't restore a marriage. I can't heal a person of cancer. I can't resolve the complex problems of our nation. Yet when I pray, I am talking to One who can do all these things and so much more. We need to pray for one another. Jesus said, “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.” That's a good reason to pray together, isn't it?
Paul requested prayer. There are times we should, too. Let me make a few suggestions. First of all, pray yourself before asking others to pray. It is easy to make a prayer request, it is another thing to pray yourself. Before requesting others to pray for you or your concerns, make sure you are praying yourself.
Secondly, don't be selfish in your prayers. If you ask others to pray when you have a crisis or need, be sure to also pray for others who make similar requests. If your need is met or your crisis is past, be sensitive about the needs and prayer requests of others. If you're having a good day, remember that someone close to you is not. If you're enjoying an answer to prayer, pray for those who are in dire need of an answer right now. We need to pray for others and have others pray for us.
Third, exercise wisdom when making a request for prayer. You don't need to share all the details of the request. If it is a critical situation, you may say so without revealing specific information. Don't turn a prayer request into gossip, either about your request or the request of others.
Finally, expect God to respond. God hears and answers the prayers of His people. We should pray with faith, expecting answers. This expectation is not an act of arrogance, but an act of faith. We don't expect answers because of the length or strength of our prayers. Neither do we expect answers because of our merit or worthiness. Instead, our expectation is based upon God's promises. Our expectation is a response of faith to the faithfulness and integrity of God & His Word.
As I get older, I realize that I need the prayers of others. What about you? If the Apostle Paul asked for prayer, shouldn't we? Are you facing situations that feel overwhelming? Reach out to believers and ask for prayer. Start with your church family, but also include other believers you know. Don't be too proud to ask for prayer.
To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, I close with this request: Brethren, pray for me.
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