Why is praying for others important?

Prayer is a part of our lives

We often hear people talk about prayer. In times of despair we hear the word “prayer” mentioned most often.  People talk about praying for a better job, or these other reasons; a car that runs, good health, and safety or in our case living in a senior community, for a wayward grandchild. If we really know someone well, we might pray for his or her marriage or other relationships. So most of the time prayer is about asking God for something to please us.

Recently, actually two weeks ago today I got a call from my wife who was with friends and she told me about massive heart attack of a dear friend of ours.  I dropped everything and drove to the hospital in a city not far away. His wife and son were there and I was allowed into the room for two minutes. 

He was completely unresponsive. I touched his arm and talked to him and prayed over him. I prayed for his healing. I prayed for God’s will for his life. My prayer included a phrase, “that if God needed him more in heaven with him for all eternity more than He needed him here with us for more years, let it be so. But we want him here with us for as long as God intends.”

My prayer was for God’s will to be manifested in the life of my friend. Here are two reasons why I believe this. It is in the Bible, the book of instruction for our life.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” 1 John 5:14   

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” 3 John 3:2   

And the Bible says something to comfort us during these times when we are praying for someone else.  

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

So even as I write this I pray for his healing, for comfort from the Holy Spirit for his family. This is a traumatic time for his family.

Now, as commentator Paul Harvey would say, “now for the rest of the story!”  The family decided to wait three days before removing life support.  He improved somewhat and they waited a few more days. His son contacted me one week after the attack and told me, “dad has improved a bit and is hanging in there”. I went to visit him the next morning and his heart was strong, he was on a ventilator (artificial respiration) and was receiving daily kidney dialysis. That day after I left they successfully removed the ventilator.  He responded by opening his eyes for the first time in a week, saw his wife and said “honey I love you, how long was I out, and who is watching my business?”

As I share this information with our mutual friends who were praying for him they say, “this is a miracle”.  As prayer is discussed here perhaps “miracle” is a good study for another BLOG. I’m already thinking about it so, stay tuned for the next BLOG!

Most of the prayers recorded in the Bible are of another type though. When Jesus prayed for others, He prayed for their faith, He prayed against temptation in their lives, He prayed for their unity, and He prayed for their sanctification.

ACTION POINTS: Pray for others

• Have you ever prayed for someone? Perhaps God brought them to your mind. Tell them you prayed for them to encourage them. Most people understand the power of prayer.
• Go out of your way to befriend someone who is hurting. Everyone needs a friend or a kind and encouraging word, and especially your prayers for them.

SCRIPTURES:
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.” Psalm 34:15 

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,” 1 Timothy 2:1 

FURTHER STUDY on the topic of PRAYER: 
In my research about prayer Google came up with a site that was helpful for me. Perhaps you will enjoy it too.
      https://www.gotquestions.org/praying-for-others.html