I want to return today to a crucial facet of
prayer that I have written about before. I want to encourage you to develop the
habit of praying for people everywhere you are. You can pray for people you see
in the bank or the grocery store. You can pray for people you meet as you walk
down the street or even as you are stuck in traffic.
Of course the first question that arises about
this is “What do I pray for total strangers?” I have given people guides that they
can use to get started, but in fact, I think the best way to pray is to be
open to whatever the Holy Spirit brings to your mind as you pray. You will
discover that you can often see needs at a glance on people’s faces. I also see
a person who reminds me of someone I do know. I pray briefly for the person I see
and then at length for the person who is called to mind.
I need to admit that this does not come
naturally to me. I have to remind myself again and again to be praying for
people around me. Possibly the most important thing I can do to prepare to pray
for people everywhere I go, is to begin my day with a sustained devotional time
and take intermittent times devoted to prayer throughout the day. But I still
have to pray regularly for God to remind me to pray for people as I go through my day. You may find this comes more natural to you. But even if it does not, you will find this to be a powerful blessing in your life.
This has been heavy on my heart! I've been wondering how Jesus would be praying if He were here, in the flesh today. "Oh Father, give us a taste of Your burden so that we might pray truly "in Jesus' Name."
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