How Do I Pray for Them?Chikamu

Step 1 – KEEP PRAYING

Do you have a family member, friend, or coworker who is hurting, struggling, or doesn’t yet know God? I do too.

If you’re anything like me, you want them to experience God’s unconditional love and His healing power. He has changed your life and you want Him to change their lives too. Many times we’re not sure what to say to them, or even where to begin. We know in all things, we want to first come to God in prayer, so we often ask, “How do I pray for them?”

How do we pray…

● When we don’t feel we have the right words?

● When it seems like our prayers are going to voicemail and nothing has changed?

● When it seems like there’s no hope and we feel like giving up?

Perhaps like me, there’s someone you’ve prayed for for years, and you’re tired and exhausted and wondering if there’s any hope at all.

I want you to know today: there is.

I’ve tried to lead many loved ones to Jesus… and I’ve done it oh so very wrong. In fact, I’m an expert in how not to do it. In my book, How (Not) to Save the World, I share lies I once believed that held me back from actually sharing God’s love with the people right next to me, and the truths I have discovered since. One of the lies I used to believe is that my prayers don’t matter.

When I was 18 years old my dad died from cancer, and my little brother Elijah was 12. Elijah grew mad at God, and wanted nothing to do with Him. There were so many times throughout the years where I would be frustrated at Elijah, and wanted to give up on praying for him. I almost believed the enemy’s lie that there was no hope for my little brother to ever have a personal relationship with Christ.

I was so wrong.

Over these 5 days, we are going to look closer at Colossians 4:2-6. This passage gives us a wonderful guide of how to pray for those around us who have yet to experience God’s love, and also for opportunities to reveal it.

To start us off, Colossians 4:2 tells us to devote ourselves to prayer.

KEEP PRAYING

Don’t give up on praying for your loved ones. This word devote in its original Greek form means to "consistently show strength, to persist, to persevere, to endure, to keep on." God calls us to persist in prayer. To press on praying with strength. With a thankful heart, be watchful and focus your prayers on the specific needs of your friends and family members.

REFLECT

What at times has kept you from being devoted to prayer? Who is someone in your life that you will persevere in praying for? What are specific needs they have right now?

PRAYER

God, I pray for _______ today. Whatever they are carrying, I pray that you help them carry it. Help them to know how much you love them. Tear down anything that is standing in the way of them coming to know you. Help me not to give up praying for them, and show me how to pray for them every day. Amen.