“I’ll Pray for You”

I’m having one of those moments of reflection. I have recently mentioned that I would pray for a friend. I know that I had good intentions and it seemed like the thing to say at the time, however, I don’t recall actually praying for him. While I don’t make a habit out of breaking my word, I certainly did in this case.

As I reflected on the practice of telling others that we will pray for them I began to ask why this exchange occurs so often without the actual prayer. Perhaps it has become fashionable to make the comment as a positive gesture with the intention of making someone feel good. Perhaps we have inadvertently diminished the power of prayer. Perhaps we are just too busy to take the time. The remaining possibility is that our belief system falls short of knowing without doubt that God, not only answers prayer, but He will most certainly answer this one.

In a recent conversation with a fellow believer I was asked why so many faithful people have so many bad things happen to them. I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, however, I believe that there is a general rule that we can consider. We must believe without doubt.

Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

James 1:6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Perhaps the next time we tell someone that we will pray for them, we need to check our heart. Do we believe without doubt that our prayer will be answered with the result we are seeking? Perhaps we can take a moment and pray with the individual instead of waiting until later. We can take advantage of the power of two or more being in agreement.

Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

God Bless
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