The typical response when first hearing of tragedy or hard times is, “oh no. I’ll be sure and pray for you.” I have been on the receiving end of that response, but have also been on the offering side of it as well. Truth be told, I’m sure I have let down a lot of people when it comes to my prayer life.
Prayer is such a divine privilege and often gets taken for granted. Before Christ, going before God was done through a priest. Even kings couldn’t do such a task without a priest; consider the pride and fall of king Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:18). There have also been times in the Old Testament scriptures where God has told individuals, “do not lift up a prayer for this people” (Jeremiah 7:16). God wanted to hear prayers of only the contrite and faithful. The same theology can be found in the New Testament as well (John 9:31). Luckily for us, we have Jesus who takes the spot as High Priest and allows us to go before the throne despite our flaws (Heb. 4:14-16).
Personally, I’m trying to do better about flippantly saying, “I’ll be sure and pray for you.” That kind of statement ought to carry a great deal of weight between the three involved parties; the receiver, the requester, and the listener. There are few more comforting thoughts in this world than to know that someone is kneeling before God’s mighty throne, having a divine conversation with my name included in the dialogue. That type of action is a responsibility that I, as a Christian, am obligated to do for others.
The problem comes down to a finite memory and simply remembering those who need prayers. You’ll find your prayer life becoming more consistent when praying for others instead of self constantly. Here are some practical ways to help our weak minds remember those in need:
- Prayer Journal – Among the other ways to keep track of prayers, this is my favorite method. Perhaps the coolest aspect of a journal is the ability to look back through time and become a witness of how God works through prayer. Find a journal no larger than your cell phone or wallet in order to keep it on you.
- The Echo Prayer App – If you have a smart phone, put it to use. There’s a handy app called “Echo Prayer” which utilizes your phone to create a prayer journal. I’ve used it before and have enjoyed my experience with it.
- Good old fashioned bulletin – maybe it’s a product of being a “secretaries kid,” but I find the Sunday bulletin to be an invaluable method of keeping people in your prayers. This can also be found in digital form in your email.
- Simply mean it. When you tell someone you’re going to pray for them, consider it an eternal reliance on you. You’ve got a job to do, so do it. You’ll find yourself growing closer to God and His people with each prayer.
Tyler King