How Do I Pray for Them?Намуна

Step 5 – PRAY FOR GRACIOUS WORDS

Many of us have seen sharing about Jesus done so wrong. We’ve seen others be aggressive, mean, pushy, judgemental, condescending, and impersonal, and we know we don’t want to be that way. We know that’s not how Jesus treated people, so that’s no way to show people who He is.

But just because we’ve seen it done wrong doesn’t mean we can’t be the ones to do it right.

This verse in Colossians shows us how we can pray for our words to be the difference. We can pray that our conversations are filled with grace and that they add liveliness to our relationships.

I learned how to better communicate with my little brother, Elijah, once I started to see the world as he saw it. I had to listen to what hurt his heart. I had to be slow to speak, and quick to listen. When we take the time to learn someone’s lens of the world, we can speak more effectively into their real life.

We must be good listeners of people and good learners of the Word of God. In a sense, we must become bilingual– learning both languages and lenses to communicate to people as clearly and effectively as possible. We need to know the questions people are asking. We also need to know God’s real answers to their real questions.

For years, I fumbled with the right words to say to Elijah. At times, I had to apologize when I hurt his feelings, and when I said words that weren’t soaked in the love of God. I’ll admit, I didn’t do it perfectly. Over time, I got better at it.

For 9 years, I prayed for my brother. I continued reading comic books with him, watching all the superhero movies, and enjoying basketball with him.

And one day, 9 years later, at my dining room table, he told me he wanted to give his life to Jesus. He had heard my story. He saw the real change in my life. The hope I had– he said he wanted it too.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9

Keep praying. Pray for open doors. Pray for boldness. Pray for awareness and wisdom. Pray for gracious words. And don’t give up.

There is hope for your family members, hope for your friends, hope for our churches, and hope for our world. Keep fighting for the people you love. Keep praying. Don’t give up.

PRAY FOR GRACIOUS WORDS

Pray that your words will be saturated in kindness, your joy will enhance the flavor of people’s lives, and the truth you tell of a Savior who rescues and restores will be received for what it truly is: the best news anyone can ever hear. Pray that you listen well. Pray that love leads the way.

REFLECT

What language do you want to get better at? Is it the language of someone in your family, or at work? Do you want to invest in seeing the world through their lens? Or is it the language of God? Do you want to invest more time in reading and studying God’s Word, so you’ll know His answers to people’s questions?

PRAYER

God, please give me the right words to say when I talk to those who are hurting and those who don’t know you. Help me to be a consistent listener of people, and learner of the Word of God. I want to show the truth of how loving you are. Amen.