Mind If I Pray For You?

Recently I was reading a devotion from Mary DeMuth who authored a book entitled, "Jesus Every Day." The book will soon be on order for through Amazon because after reading her devotion, I wanted to read her book. She drew me in immediately. In her devotion she speaks of the first time she wrote/said, "Mind if I pray for you?" rather than the traditional line we all say of, "I will be praying for you." How many times have I said that same line? And it is true, I do pray. But how much more powerful to stop and pray right then and there. I grew up praying with my family. The prayers were prayers taught to me and handed down through the teachings of Luther's Catechism. Those were the only prayers I knew - to be read or to recite. And I believe there is validity in that, as that model has helped to shape prayer for me today. But I also believe in going deeper and entering into conversation with our Father in Heaven. Sharing our heart. Our joys. Our disappointments. Our praise. Our questions. Knowing that God is there. That He cares and he hears all our prayers - whether spoken or unspoken.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

~1 Thessalonians  5:16-18 (NIV)

There are times in life when we go through difficulties. Seasons of drought. Sometimes we are able to open up and share and other times we are not. But we need to know that these droughts don't last forever. We need to know that when we are in the drought, God still hears our whispered prayers. He is there - always. You know. You have been there. We have all been there. And how good does it feel when someone just comes alongside? When someone walks with you. When someone prays over you. It feels uplifting, knowing that someone would pray when we feel we don't have the words.

We all go through seasons. Seasons where we are able to praise God with our whole heart and seasons where we feel lost and out of sorts. I heard it once explained that we have a God shaped hole. A void. And we try to fill it with so many things, hoping it will bring us the joy we long for. But, what we need to realize is that nothing can fill that hole. That void. Nothing, except GOD. And when we allow God to fill that hole, we realize that the drought of our soul is no longer. We realize that we are filled with a love so powerful - beyond what we can imagine. And we feel whole again. We are filled with the Spirit's love. Our heart is no longer empty but is filled to over flowing.

I have been putting into practice, "Mind if I pray for you?" since reading the devotion. In fact, sometimes it hasn't even been an ask but I have just prayed. And, not that I should be surprised, but the results are amazing. Just what someone needed to hear. Thank you, I really needed that. Your prayers really touched me, just knowing you were praying. I love when we can gather in community together and do life and uphold one another in prayer. And so this evening, I end this post with the prayer Mary DeMuth prayed in her devotion. And it is a prayer I pray for you, my friend...

Jesus, I pray for the dear person reading this prayer. Would you woo them to Yourself? Would You bring peace into whatever chaos they face today? Would you show them how deeply and widely (and wildly) You love them?

Remind them in this sweet circle of two that you are there. You are available. You offer grace to approach you—no stern looks, no sighs of disappointment, no tsking or shaking of the head. Your arms, they are wide open, and Your embrace is always available.

Take my friend on a journey to deepen their relationship with You. Empower them to run to you when life careens or hope wanes.

Invigorate their prayer life. Move mountains. Unleash freedom. Heal wounds. Restore what’s been lost. Demonstrate Your love in them-shaped ways.

Thank you that you’re the empathetic Savior who understands what it’s like to walk this dusty earth, clay-footed. Thank you for making a way for them to be safe, forgiven, and welcomed—all because You left the glory of heaven for earth’s sin-scarred shore.

Oh, how You love them. Oh, how they need You. Do something new in the heart of the one reading these words.

May spiritual growth and freedom spring forth, a new river through a wild land.

Amen and amen.