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‘The Star Thrower’ and the Difference You Can Make

In 1978, author Loren Eiseley published an essay called “The Star Thrower.” It recounts a beach walk by a narrator...

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Only a Prayer Apart

Posted on by Melinda Mallory

With my kids and husband out for the afternoon, it was a good time to go through the box of things I’d brought home from Mom’s house on my last visit. The old photos made me wish she lived close enough to see every day. I reached into the box and pulled out a scrap of paper.

Is this…? I unfolded it and gasped. “It can’t be!”

Written in faded marker was a verse from Genesis: “The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.”

At once I was nine years old again, watching Mom pack my trunk for summer camp. I’d never been away from home alone for so long before. “Please don’t make me go, Mom!” I cried.

“It will be fun, Melinda,” Mom said. “You’ll make lots of new friends. You can write every day and tell me all the fun things you’re doing.”

I dissolved into tears. Mom gathered me in her arms and rocked me. “I have an idea,” she said. “The two of us can have a secret prayer. Whenever you’re sad or homesick just say it to yourself. I’ll be praying for you too.”

READ MORE: CREATE A SCRIPTURE KIT

She recited the verse to me until I learned it. Maybe I was just tired out from crying, but it made me feel a little better.

“You’ll see,” Mom promised. “It seems like I’ll be far away. But we’ll be only a prayer apart.” At camp the next day I opened my trunk. Taped to the inside was a scrap of paper with our verse on it in Mom’s handwriting.

I did make new friends at camp, just as Mom had promised. And I had lots of fun. But I got homesick too sometimes; whenever I did, my special prayer made me feel better.

Over the years Mom pinned the prayer to my suitcase on my eighth-grade class trip to Washington and cross-stitched it for me when I went away to college. After I got married I hung it in my new house. My kids are growing up with the prayer too.

And now, just when I was thinking about Mom, here was the original, its ink faded but its power undiminished. No matter where I go, my loved ones and I will always be only a prayer apart.

Download your FREE ebook, A Prayer for Every Need, by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Not Afraid of Death

Posted on by Trudy Harris

On my very first visit to Gene, a wonderful Baptist man, I knew how deep his faith was. He was only 60 years old, dying of cancer of the lung, but he had no fear in him.

As I was preparing to leave, I asked if he would like me to pray with him. This precious and confident man fell to his knees in front of me, hands raised, and said, “Yes, please.” I could just see God smiling at the picture of a Catholic nurse praying with a Baptist patient who was about to meet his Creator. We became fast friends in a very short time.

Gene had two handsome blue-eyed, blond sons and one beautiful brown-eyed, dark-haired daughter, all of whom he loved dearly. He told me about a great-great-great grandmother who was a Native American princess, which explained the beautiful daughter who for all the world could be one. Although he mentioned it to me, and was proud of it, it had not impacted his life to any great degree.

Gene was a very devout Christian and now, as he approached his death, he knew whom he would be seeing very soon. “I know where I am going and I’m not afraid to die,” he said to me on more than one occasion.

One evening while the whole family was kneeling around his bed, I asked, “Do you want us to pray with you?” Even though Gene had not responded for about three or four days, he made it known with groans and a shake of his head that yes, he wanted us to pray with him.

It became very clear that Gene could hear us praying and he joined us in a very unique way. His prayer sounded so beautiful and much like a chant, with all the rhythms and sounds associated with Native American worship. As he was praying, he began to lift his body into a sitting position with his hands outstretched and his arms raised. It was spellbinding to watch since he had not responded in any way for days and was really too weak to do so now.

It seemed wonderful that God would enable this faith-filled man to be accompanied by the ancestors he did not know and to find comfort in their prayers for him now. He died peacefully the next day with his loving family around him.

How to Powerfully Bless Someone

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

A favorite prayer practice of mine is to pray blessings over people–whether it’s in a child dedication ceremony, a birthday greeting, an email signature, or praying with someone in church. I often use one of these 12 biblical benedictions to pray over someone. These benedictions have been adapted from Bible verses.

I’ve never heard anyone object to receiving such a prayer and have frequently been told that one of these blessings had a powerful effect on someone, even when it was offered briefly and in passing.

It blesses us to bless others and also fulfills the biblical admonition to “let your conversation be always full of grace” (Colossians 4:6, NIV), and to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV).

Here are 12 powerful blessings you can use for all occasions.

Ever Forget to Pray for Someone?

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

Has this ever happened to you? Someone’s reached out and told you of a desperate need and you’ve promised to pray. “You’re in my prayers,” you said. In fact, they probably shared with you because they know you’re a praying person. You prayed then and there. But a couple of days went by, weeks perhaps, and you forgot to pray again.

A month or two or three or 10 months later, you get an email from them or from their best friend, thanking you for your prayers. It’s all good news, you discover. The latest report from the oncologist shows no lingering sign of cancer or the marriage that seemed headed for divorce has weathered another year or the job that was desperately sought has been found. “So grateful for your prayers,” you read.

With guilt and regret you fidget in your chair and your hands hover over the keyboard because you’re tempted to type, full of apology, in all caps: “BUT…BUT…BUT…I FORGOT TO PRAY.”

Does this sound at all familiar? I wish I could say it never happened to me, but it has. Over a year ago a dear friend asked me to pray for a woman who’d had a lung transplant, a huge surgery, and was going through a long grueling recovery. Yes, yes, I did pray for the woman.

But then other needs, other requests were made, and as good as I try to be at scribbling prayer requests down on a yellow Post-It note so I won’t forget, the Post-It notes pile up and new Post-It notes get scribbled down, and sometimes I can’t even read my handwriting.

So when an email came announcing good news I was pleased. “She’s so grateful for your prayers,” I was told. “It means the world to her.” I cringed at that. I hardly deserved any credit. My hands hovered over the keyboard, yearning to write something apologetic.

Then I thought, “WAIT A MINUTE. God is the one who deserves the credit here.” Praise God. “I’m thrilled for her,” I wrote, trying my best to sound gracious. And gracious is just the right word with grace at the heart of it, God’s grace, God’s forgiving grace.

In the meanwhile, here is my note to self, just to do better–when a prayer request comes, do three things:

1) Pray then and there.
Pray over the phone, pray in an email, pray in a journal, pray silently to yourself. But pray then and there.

2) Write it down.
Write things down not just to remember them but because the writing itself is prayer. It’s very satisfying to go back and look at those names. Sometimes you discover a prayer has been answered without your fussing over it.

3) Trust God to remember what you forget.
God’s in charge here. That’s what it’s all about. That was what the first and second and 20th prayers were all about, reminders that God is taking care of what is too big for us to do.

Good thing that God doesn’t forget!

A Prayer for the High School Graduate

Posted on by Olivia Abel

From the time a child is born we start marking their life with milestones: the first step, the first word, that teary first day of kindergarten. But high school graduation is a biggie; after all, it means our kids are often getting ready to fly the coop and leave us with an empty nest.

So whether your child is headed off to college, to work or on some other type of adventure, seeking God’s guidance can help everyone move forward successfully with this rite of passage.

Prayer for High School Graduate

Dear Lord, thank You for choosing me to parent my child; raising them has been one of my life’s greatest honors. As we reach this important milestone—high school graduation—I am full of pride as well as some trepidation. I know that to everything there is a season and that this part of my parenting journey is coming to a close. God, help me to let go and focus on supporting my child through the next exciting phase of their life journey; protect them as they take this giant step forward into adulthood. Wrap them in your loving embrace and infuse them with hope and the knowledge to make good choices for their career and future relationships. Bring them closer to You. Oh merciful Father, I know that you have wonderful plans for my child—plans to prosper and not to harm—so show both of us how to trust in You more fully. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Friendship for a Season

Posted on by Pablo Diaz

Think about the people in your life. How many of them are your friends?

As people come into our lives, we open up our hearts for a reason…some stay for a season, while others stay for a lifetime.  A true friendship is one of the greatest treasures in life. Where would you be without friends?

Henri Nouwen wrote, “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.”

I honestly would not be the person that I am today without the friends I’ve had in my life.  During a time where my passion and energy for ministry was at its lowest point, I opened up and confided in my friend Sid, explaining how the everyday challenges of leading a church had worn me down. That the joy of helping people had turned into a burden.

“Pablo, the passion does come back. God will renew your energy. The fire will return for ministry.” I did not believe him. After all, Sid and I were worlds apart, in age, education and backgrounds. When I continued feeling at my lowest, it was Sid’s words that replayed in my mind giving me the hope I needed.

He was right! In time God restored my energy and more importantly…my passion for ministry.

Someone once said, “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” Sid was the one who walked in. He was the friend I needed at the time.
People come into our lives for a reason. Some stay for a season and a few for a life time. Where would we be without the people who lift us up when we need it the most? Who did God send your way when you needed a warm and tender hand? Share your story.

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to walk with my friends in their darkest moment and send the friends I need for this season of my life.

8 Ways to Pray for Your Pastor

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

Everyone wants a stronger, more vibrant spiritual life, right? And Christians everywhere want their church to be stronger and more vibrant, right? If that’s your desire, one of the best things you can do to make that happen is to pray for your pastor.

Being a pastor is among the most demanding, most stressful jobs in our modern world. A recent Forbes Magazine article listed “pastor” and “minister” in the top five toughest leadership roles. I’ve been there myself, having pastored four churches over a couple decades. And I have dozens of pastor friends, including my own pastors. Pastors are on the front lines. They juggle numerous tasks, most of which are behind the scenes. They present easy targets for comparisons and complaints. Their spouses and families often suffer from unrealistic expectations. And they often feel alone and misunderstood.

Some people, of course, wish their spiritual leaders were more dynamic leaders or better preachers or more sensitive shepherds. Some resort to criticizing their pastor or bemoaning the state of their church. But few things will accomplish as much as praying for your pastor. Doing so simultaneously draws you closer to God and makes you a partner with God in the work He wants to do for you, your spiritual life, your church, and your church’s leaders.

What—and how—should you pray? I offer eight suggestions:

1) Pray for your pastor’s marriage and family

No pastor wants to neglect his or her spouse and family. But it is too easy to let the demands of others crowd out the priority of marriage and family. So pray for your pastor’s marriage and children to thrive. Pray for your pastor’s aging parents or other relatives. Ask God to make his or her home a place of beauty and joy that sets a good example for the flock of God.

2) Pray for your pastor’s spiritual life

No one can draw water from an empty well. Yet too often pastors try to preach and teach, counsel and comfort, lead and support to the neglect of their own souls. So pray for your pastor to keep company with God in prayer, to experience blessing and growth in Bible reading (not only to prepare for preaching and teaching), and to find and seize opportunities to worship himself or herself.

3) Pray for your pastor’s physical health

The demands of ministry often compete with healthy lifestyles. In the U.S., people in ministry now suffer from obesity and hypertension at higher rates than those to whom they minister. So pray for your pastor to be protected from sickness and disease. Pray for your pastor to take good physical care of himself or herself, to develop and maintain good diet and exercise routines. Pray for physical strength and stamina, particularly during demanding ministry seasons (such as Advent, building campaigns, etc.).

4) Pray for wisdom and vision

Leaders often face incredibly challenging situations and decisions. Seasons of growth, stagnation, and decline in the church all demand much from a pastor. So pray for God to grant wisdom and vision to your pastor. Pray for wisdom to say “yes” and “no” at the appropriate times. Pray for wisdom in scheduling and hiring and firing. Pray for vision to lead the church as it needs to be led and where it needs to go.

5) Pray for your pastor’s friendships

Being a pastor can be a dangerously lonely job. Few understand the pressures they face and many criticize the decisions they make. Pray for your pastor to make and maintain healthy, strong friendships that will build him or her up, relationships that allow your pastor to be himself or herself, and enjoy an occasional respite from the responsibility of being “all things to all people.”

6) Pray for your pastor’s finances

Many people in ministry are over-committed and underpaid. They make sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel, and often serve churches where funds are tight. But of course Scripture says, “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18, NIV), and debt and other financial pressures make effective ministry all the more difficult. So pray for your pastor’s financial well-being.

7) Pray for rest

As a pastor, I never realized how tired I was until the first day or two of vacation. I would often collapse in exhaustion and frequently got sick. Eventually, I learned to take a weekly Sabbath, but I was still often “running on fumes” by the time my Sabbath arrived. Many pastors are the same—or worse. So pray for your pastor to get the necessary rest, to be regularly and completely refreshed and revived by sleep, recreation, time off and vacation.

8) Pray for ministry effectiveness

Nothing revives and restores a pastor like a spiritual victory—a grateful response to a sermon, new converts, new members, baptisms, etc. So pray for your pastor to feel useful and effective in his or her efforts, to see the fruit of his or her labors, and to experience the blessing of making a real and lasting difference in people’s lives.

These are not the only prayers you can pray for your pastor, of course. There are too many to list. But these represent a great start, and each will make a discernible difference in your own prayer life—and that of your faith community.

7 Prayers for Getting Married in a Pandemic

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

How to get married during a pandemic? Not only do couples face tough logistical decisions about the ceremony during this time of social distancing but so do the families and friends who want to celebrate with them. Many couples have changed their plans to outdoor venues or walked down the aisle in masks. Often families have had to forgo travel and watch their loved ones’ wedding on video.

As problematic as weddings and receptions can be at the moment, one thing can and should be constant: prayer. Wherever and however a couple is joined together, prayer can be offered for them—and can provide an occasion to pray for our own marriages. My wife and I have done this for years now, using every wedding as an opportunity to renew our own wedding vows and refresh the prayers for our marriage.

Here are seven prayers I repeat often for my marriage and can be offered for any newly married couple, from any distance:

1) The One Flesh Prayer
Lord God, Your Word says, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, NIV). Thank You for joining us together in the profound and mysterious union that is a reflection of Your relationship with the church. Bless and increase our oneness of mind, heart, body and soul, and let our one life together be a testimony of love and commitment to all around us. Amen.

2) The Song of Songs Prayer
May God grant us, today and every day that is to come, a love that burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame; the love which many waters cannot quench and mighty rivers cannot wash away; the love which lasts longer than life is stronger than death and is worth more than all the wealth in the world, amen (based on Song of Songs 8:6-7).

3) The Wedding at Cana Prayer
Jesus, You chose a wedding in Cana of Galilee as the setting for Your first miracle. You blessed that couple with Your presence and wonder-working power. You saved them and their family from shame and scandal. You played a key role in launching their married life in joy and honor. So, Lord, I ask, do that for us as well, letting Your presence and power in our lives save us from shame and scandal and result in joy and honor. Amen.

4) The Cord of Three Strands Prayer
Father, let us never forget that a Christian marriage is not a duet but a trio. Help us to strengthen and preserve our marriage by always keeping You at the center of our marriage, remembering, as the Bible says, that “A cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, CSB). Amen.

5) The Promise Prayer
Father God, please help us to keep every promise we’ve made to each other: to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, forsaking all others, ‘til death do us part. Amen.

6) The Colossians Prayer
Help us, God, as Your chosen people, holy and dearly loved, to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience toward each other, and bear with each other and forgive one another any and every grievance. Help us to forgive as You forgave us. And over all these other virtues help us to put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and make us always thankful, letting the message of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish each other with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in our hearts. And in all that we do, whether in word or deed, help us to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (based on Colossians 3:12-17, NIV).

7) The Hebrews 13:4 Prayer
Father, Your Word says that “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure” (Hebrews 13:4, NIV). Grant that we may always honor this holy, sacramental relationship and keep it free from all impurity of heart, mind and life, in Jesus’ name, amen.

These are good wedding prayers for any couple, but they’re especially meaningful for one’s own marriage, reminding us of the love and promises we share.

5 Prayers for a Child Leaving Home

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

When our children started grade school, my wife would gather them in her arms and pray for them before they walked out. She would pray for their safety, wisdom and wise choices. The practice continued through their school years. But when they left home for college, we had to settle for just one prayer together in a dorm room or apartment.

And when it came to their wedding days, we prayed yet again. Now they were leaving home, for good.

I wish we’d had a way to record those prayers which, of course, changed over the years. But after adjusting for age and maturity, the gist was usually much the same. It followed a pattern like these prayers that can be prayed over a child of any age who is leaving the house—or leaving home—for whatever reason:

1) The Aaronic Blessing

The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you
and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26, NIV)

2) The Irish Blessing (slightly revised)

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
and rains fall soft upon your efforts*
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

*Revised. The original is phrased, “upon your fields.”

3) St. Patrick’s Breastplate (slightly revised)

Christ go with you, Christ before you,
Christ behind you, Christ within you,
Christ beneath you, Christ above you,
Christ at your right, Christ at your left.

4) The Lorica of St. Fursey (slightly revised)

The arms of God be around your shoulders,
The touch of the Holy Spirit upon your head,
The sign of Christ’s cross upon your forehead,
The sound of the Holy Spirit in your ears,
The fragrance of the Holy Spirit in your nostrils,
The vision of heaven’s company in your eyes,
The conversation of heaven’s company on your lips,
The work of God’s church in your hands,
The service of God and the neighbor in your feet,
A home for God in your heart,
And to God, the Father of all, your entire being.

5) David’s Song (based on Psalm 28:7)
May the Lord be your strength and shield;
let your heart trust in Him, and be helped by Him.
May your heart leap for joy,
and a song of praise to Him be always in your mouth.

5 Prayers and Blessings for Animals and Pets

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

The Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi is upon us.

The what of whom? you might ask.

The Feast of Saint Francis occurs October 4 every year. It commemorates the life of Saint Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the patron saint of animals. Many churches of various denominations (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, etc.) celebrate and honor Saint Francis by offering services in which animals are blessed and prayed for. Some also collect pet food for distribution throughout the year to seniors and other animal lovers who might otherwise sacrifice or struggle to provide for the animals they love.

Any day, of course, is a good day to give thanks to God for His wonderful works, but the Feast of Saint Francis provides an opportunity to give thanks for the animals that enrich our lives, and also to help the “least” of the beasts—strays, abused and forgotten animals. If you’re so inclined, here are five prayers you can use to bless the beasts—and the leasts:

1)  The Canticle of the Creatures by Saint Francis of Assisi

Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you light the night and he is beautiful
and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no living man can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.

2)  A Paean of Praise for Animals

O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!
In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your creatures.
Here is the ocean, vast and wide,
teeming with life of every kind,
both large and small….
They all depend on you
to give them food as they need it.
When you supply it, they gather it.
You open your hand to feed them,
and they are richly satisfied….
When you give them your breath, life is created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made! (Psalm 67:24-25, 27-28, 30-31, NLT).

3)  A Blessing for a Beloved Animal

Blessed are you, Lord God,
who made every living thing with which the water teems,
and every winged bird,
the livestock,
the creatures that move along the ground,
and the wild animals,
and called it all “good.”
Thank you for this animal,
for its life that comes from you,
and for the love and joy it brings.
Please bless this creature
and let our loving care for him/her be a reflection of your loving nature.
We praise you for all your beauty in creation, and especially for this expression of your love.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen. (Bob Hostetler)

4)  Prayer for a Sick Animal

Merciful God,
you created all things for your glory
and have graciously allowed us this animal to love.
Please look kindly on him and restore him to health and strength.
Please deliver her from fear and pain,
and grant us wisdom in our care for her,
in the name of Jesus, amen. (Bob Hostetler)

5)  Prayer for Animals in Need

Lord God,
you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power.
You created all things for your glory,
yet there are those in your Creation who languish in pain and suffering.
Please look kindly upon those animals who are in need this day,
whether they are in the wild, on the streets, in captivity, or elsewhere.
Deliver those who are hurt, abused, hungry, and forgotten.
Please grant that they may be treated with the loving care and respect all your Creation deserves,
in the name of Jesus, amen. (Bob Hostetler)

The Feast of Saint Francis is not the only day we can give thanks and pray for our pets and other animals, of course. And these prayers are intended as a mere beginning.

4 Reasons to ‘Keep Watch’ as You Pray for Others

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

The scene of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane is familiar to many. It portrays Jesus in agonizing prayer and ultimate submission before His arrest, trial and crucifixion. But it also shows Jesus asking for His closest friends to pray too:

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Mark 14:32-42, NIV).

Have you ever stopped to ponder why Jesus asked His friends to “Stay here and keep watch?”

He didn’t mean for them to guard against arrest; He purposefully went “as usual to the Mount of Olives” (Luke 22:39, niv; italics added), a place that Judas, His betrayer, would know well. He wasn’t avoiding capture, but preparing for it.

So why did He ask them to “Stay here and keep watch?” Wasn’t Jesus capable of praying for Himself? Weren’t His prayers good enough and powerful enough? Did He need to activate the “prayer chain?”

I think He wanted His friends to “keep watch” with Him for several reasons—reasons that can instruct and encourage us:

1. Pray to show your care for others.

In His dark night of the soul, Jesus craved the care and support of His friends. He had His own prayers to offer, and according to Luke, He had an angel come to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43). He probably also knew that whatever His disciples prayed would be quite different from His own requests. But praying for someone is an act of friendship; it is a form of caring. It is not hard to imagine that Jesus would have liked for His friends to show their love for Him through prayer.

2. Pray to be a companion to others.

Jesus’ words upon finding His friends sleeping are thick with pathos: “Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?” He felt let down. He felt alone. Imagine the encouragement He might have drawn from them if He had found them praying with Him and even for Him. So it is with us. When we pray for others, we come alongside them and link arms with them. No matter how many miles may separate us, we are “boon companions” to those for whom we pray.

3. Pray to prepare for what is ahead.

After Jesus found them sleeping, He added to His request of His closest friends. He said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” He may have meant the temptation to fight back against those who came to arrest Him, which they would soon face. He may have meant the temptation to desert Him, or to despair. Or all of the above. Having been disappointed by their lack of care and companionship, He may have hoped that they would at least prepare for what was ahead.

4. Pray to strengthen yourself.

When you pray for others, your prayers also strengthen yourself. In fact, I think it is nearly impossible to intercede for others without deriving some benefit for yourself. So, when Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” He may have been doing more than making an observation; He may have been granting them grace (“The spirit is willing”) while also pointing out their need (“the flesh is weak”), which could be met through prayer.

What an opportunity Peter, James and John missed on that fateful night. It is an opportunity not unlike that which we face anytime a friend or acquaintance expresses a need, one that imparts care and companionship to others while preparing and strengthening ourselves. It is an opportunity we might pray never to miss.

10 Bible Blessings to Pray for Those You Love

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

A friend shared a touching story in Bible study. His adult son and daughter-in-law began a tradition with their firstborn. They hung over the child’s bed a framed representation of the Aaronic blessing from the Bible: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

Each night, as they tucked their child into bed, they blessed him with those words. Now, when his grandmother or grandfather (my friend) visit and tuck him in, he asks, “Will you bless me?”

Blessings, many of which can be found in the Bible, are a great way to pray for those we love, both when they can hear us and when they can’t. In fact, biblical blessings can focus and enhance your prayers even when you don’t know what else to pray for someone.

Here are some Bible blessings I like to pray for those I love, and the part of Scripture they’re drawn from.

10 Bible Blessings:

  1. “May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He smile on you and be gracious to you; may He look your way and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26, author’s paraphrase)
  2. “May God give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” (Psalm 20:4, NIV)
  3. “May God be gracious to you and bless you and make His face shine upon you.” (Psalm 67:1, NIV)
  4. “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it, and may you be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:16, NLT)
  5. “May Christ make His home in your heart through faith.” (Ephesians 3:17b, GNT)
  6. “May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV)
  7. “May you be strengthened with all power, according to God’s glorious might.” (Colossians 1:11a, NLT)
  8. “May you be filled with joy.” (Colossians 1:11b, NLT)
  9. “May the Master pour on the love so it fills your life and splashes over on everyone around you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12, The Message)
  10. “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NIV)

Why not start today? Pray one or more of the above for a loved one. Memorize one or two so you can speak a Bible blessing anytime, for anyone.