When Someone Asks Us to Pray for Them

What do I do when a friend of mine asks for me to pray for them?   These kind of things I do not take lightly.   Yet, for what am I asking for this other person?

This is a complex question.   I want results for this other person.   I really do.   I would like to put in my order with God and have the desires of this other person come into being.   Right?

In fact, in this case it is really easy.  The desire for my friend would make her life with her family easier.   It would provide a base and place from which to love and support her family.  Why is this not something that God would immediately say "Yes" in answer?

Is it my place to intercede on her behalf with God?  Do I really believe in a God who will not answer such a prayer?  Do I believe in a God who will answer all such prayers?  Is the specific result that she wants, the result that will provide for the most spiritual growth and fulfillment?   All of these questions are so far beyond my wisdom.  

So when I promise to pray for someone, what am I promising?

I promise that:

I will take time out to be intentional; to be quiet; to be still

There is a time that needs to be set aside from all of those distractions of life.   A time where my intention is to, once again, be aware of the presence of God.  

My thoughts and feelings and words will be focused on the greater good for the other person.

In this sense, the greater good is that which promotes love for, to, and around the object of prayer.   This has nothing to do with the actual prayer request.   It could be anything at all.   In any prayer, I place that person or that situation or object in the center of  field of love, connectedness, peace, and joy.   It is like submerging them in a field of God's love and power.

I will thank God for all the great things about whom or what I am praying.

The feelings of gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness will open up the door to my heart, and in this I will be able to see the object of my prayer as a part of life; of feeling connected to all, of being connected to the person or thing the prayer is about.   As I pray for them, or it, I pray for myself.   As I desire to help them, I am helping myself.

I will focus on the feelings that this answered prayer will have for the other person.

Ultimately, I want the object of my prayer to be happy, or to be part of that happiness for another.   Again, regardless of the outcome of circumstances, of the prayer, the point is for those results to be part of the experience of being happy, being fulfilled, being at peace.

If the prayer request is for another to get a job, then I will focus on the feelings that they will experience that a new job brings; the freedom, the joy, the relief, the celebration.   In the end, what comes up is not as important as how we or the other person feels about it.

It may sound like a lot of things are going on when I pray for someone else, but not really.   It all happens so effortlessly when you love the people or the object of your prayer.

I promise.