I saw this at my friend, Emily‘s. I don’t know who the author is. I’ve read so many missionary stories in which someone felt led to pray for someone else and did so, only to find out later that was a time of unusual need. I try to pray for a need as soon as I hear about it, but I need to follow those unexpected thoughts about others with prayers, as well.
I can not tell why there should come to me
A thought of someone miles and years away,
In swift insistence on the memory,
Unless there is a need that I should pray.
We are too busy to spare thought
For days together of some friends away;
Perhaps God does it for us — and we ought
To read His signal as a sign to pray.
Perhaps just then my friend has fiercer fight,
A more appalling weakness, a decay
Of courage, darkness, some lost sense of right;
And so, in case he needs my prayers — I pray.
Stray Thoughts 
I try to remember that if God has put someone on my mind it is likely a call to prayer. Sometimes I don’t remember as quickly as I should, though.
Oh, I like that, Barbara. A good reminder to pray when prompted.
I enjoyed reading this my friend. 🙂 Thanks for sharing 🙂
Funny you should write this. God just this week put an old childhood friend on my heart – 2 days in a ROW! Same friend. I prayed. It is highly unlikely that I will ever see or hear from her again… and I have NO idea what her stand with Jesus is… but pray I did. Only God knows her need…
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I googled a portion of this poem out of curiosity when I read it this morning in a book I am reading called “How I Know God Answers Prayer” (1921) by Rosalind Goforth, missionary to China with her husband Jonathan. The search results brought me to your blog. When we pray in the Spirit we will often pray for others, even as Jesus prayed for us many centuries ago. Be blessed!!