As I sat in the hospital last week, discouraged over a large and stubborn case of cellulitis that didn’t seem to be budging, I felt it was time to ask for prayer more publicly. I had emailed a few friends when the situation began. But now I felt I needed to share the burden a bit further.
And then I asked myself why.
Did I think prayer was more likely to be answered the more people prayed? Was prayer a spiritual vote?
Well, no, it doesn’t work like that. God sometimes says no despite prayers from all over the globe.
Did I feel other people might have more faith than I did?
In my low moments, a little. When the paralytic’s friends brought him to Jesus for healing, mention is made of their faith, not his. (Luke 5:17-26).
However, Jesus said we only need faith the size of a mustard seed.
Yet somehow, we’re helped when others pray: “We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again while you join in helping us by your prayers” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11, CSB).
We are told all through Scripture to pray for each other. Paul’s epistles give many examples of specific ways to pray. So it is right to ask for prayer from brothers and sisters in Christ.
Others’ prayers help us to rejoice: “Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance” (Philippians 1:18-19).
Others’ prayers draw our hearts together: “And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you” (2 Corinthians 9:14).
Others’ prayers expand thanksgiving to God: “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:11).
Others’ prayers help us in our struggles: “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” (Romans 15:30).
Of course, asking others to pray is not just about getting my desired outcome. I cringe at language like “storming the gates of heaven,” as if we can force God to do our will. He’s more concerned with conforming us to His will.
Sometimes God says no to one request to provide for a greater need. Sometimes He wants us to learn humility and patience while waiting in prayer or to grow our faith. Fellowshiping with others in prayer helps with those aspects, too.
Whether I pray in person with others or they answer an email or text to tell me what they are praying, my heart is touched first by the fact that they care about me as a sister in Christ, even if they don’t know me well. Then I am instructed as they pray for aspects of the situation or have a perspective of it that I hadn’t thought of. I am amazed that another’s prayer can sometimes reflect a depth of understanding of the need far beyond what I shared. I don’t know whether that comes from their spiritual maturity, or the Holy Spirit’s leading in prayer, or both. I am also encouraged by sharing the load a bit with others.
Sometimes it’s hard to know when to ask others to pray and how much to share. I had an acquaintance years ago who almost could not say anything to anyone without asking for prayer. I was never quite sure if that was a good thing or not. But we can ask for God’s leading even in this. Whether we share with one other person, or a group, or everyone we know, God can use us in each other’s lives through the ministry of prayer.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
I’m loving this post. I rarely ask for prayer and now I have some things to ponder. I definitely do occasionally ask my closest sisters in Christ to pray.
I think a lot of our tendencies have to do with personality and upbringing. My husband prays with others at church, leads our family in prayer, and texts prayer requests to the kids. But he doesn’t ask for prayer from others nearly as much as I do. I think I lean a little toward oversharing sometimes, but he’s more inclined to regard many things as too personal to share. There’s not a clear line of when to ask and when not to, when sharing is too much or too little.
I feel blessed and honored when someone asks me to pray for them or for a certain need. We need each other, for prayer support and just to share with them.
It is an honor to be asked. Especially when the person doesn’t easily ask or share.
You’ve captured many of the thoughts I have had here, Barbara. I too don’t totally understand how prayers of intercession, or any types of prayers really, work, but I know God asks us to pray, both for ourselves and for others. I know. I feel honored when someone asks me to pray for them. And sometimes I feel that it’s easier to pray for other people than for ourselves, I am not sure why, but it just seems like that little bit of remove helps. I continue to pray that your cellulitis would go away.
Thanks for praying! It appears to be cleared up.
I think prayer reminds us how dependent we are on God. I don’t understand the mysteries of why He answers some prayers and not others, except that every parent has to say no sometimes to requests even though the child doesn’t understand.
Prayers!
Thank you!
I get really tired sometimes of the prevalent mindset that treats prayer like a referendum. It’s almost as if Christians sometimes believe that if they can get enough people praying for something, then God will HAVE TO do whatever they’re praying for.
They is something important about remembering others as we talk to God. One of my favorite prayers is asking God to move in a situation. It is not me telling him what to do it is praying that people will feel God in challenging times. It is often in the darkest hours we can easily find it hard to feel God moving even know we know God is always moving.
Barbara I think corporate prayer is so important & yes I agree when others pray with us we can feel the burden shared.
I hope prayer was answered & your cellulitis is healing. Visiting from Stephanie’s today.
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. The cellulitis seems to have cleared up. I hope and pray it stays that way!
Yay! That’s great news Barbara, praising God for His wonderful answer to prayer! 🤗
Prayer is nothing more than a conversation with God. I say that as my first thought in this comment because as a child I thought it was so much more, and would I ever “learn” how to do it!? But I believe that just as we have a friendly conversation with a friend over a recipe or their favorite color, it is just as easy to have a prayer conversation with God. The subject is irrelevant, in the end because it is our belief that is in play here. We all have a list of what we prayed for that did not come about. Which leads me to your line, God sometimes says no despite prayers from all over the globe. I wish everyone could read this one line…..By the way, this is one of my features for SSPS #433. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thanks so much for featuring this post. It’s true we get too caught up in the “form” of prayer and forget we’re just talking to our Father.
Barbara, I’m so glad you felt comfortable asking your friends and readers (and readers who are friends) to pray for you last week. I’m also glad you are feeling better! I don’t think I’ve ever read a blog post on this topic; your observations and conclusions are so thoughtful. I am so grateful for everyone who prayed for me last year; there’s such comfort in knowing others are interceding on our behalf, especially when we can’t do much praying ourselves.
I find it so encouraging when I know friends and loved ones are praying for me. Especially as they think of me and check in with me, Thank you for the eccouragement and sharing the wonderful Scriptures,
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