What happens when you have so many needs but the Lord asks you to pray for others?

This was literally God the other morning.  In the midst of a time where I have a lot of needs, I felt God’s gentle nudge wake me up to pray- however this time, it wasn’t over my needs. So I found myself in the living room with my journal. BTW I had no idea where my journal was because it had been a while. So I began to started jot names down.

One by one the Lord placed these people on my heart. When I finally finished going down my list, it hit me. Why would God wake me up to pray for other people’s needs, if He already knows what those needs are?! “Hey, Sandy so and so has this need, I need you to pray for it”. Makes no sense, right?! I was troubled and couldn’t figure out why God would do that. Suddenly, I had the most chilling moment. I felt the Lord say “If you don’t pray for them, who will”? 

Have you wondered if someone was praying for you? What if no one was? I wondered how many times we feel weary and feel we need a word from God. However, we get so consumed in our worries that we never think about our brothers and sisters who remain unprotected by prayer. What if we could stand in the gap for them? What if we could commit to pray for them, for their needs, in the weaknesses.  God doesn’t always ask us to let that person know- sometimes it’ll be a private prayer. Sometimes, the Lord will lead you to share it. In the end, it’s about covering others in prayer. In the end, it’s about being there for our brothers and sisters. Of course God can do it! But isn’t it amazing when God works in your life and makes room in your troubled heart for other’s troubles? 

When I reached the bottom of the list, I felt the Lord add 4 more names. I didn’t really know what to pray over these people- but I heard Him keep saying- If you don’t who will? Everyone’s given up on them, but I need you to pray for them.

Isn’t God crazy?! Though this blog is a bit shorter than usual, I just want to take the time to motivate you to make some time for prayer this week. I challenge you to make a list of people around you that have different needs and partner with them. Your prayer doesn’t have to be long and you don’t have to find the most fanciest or big words. God knows our heart and He sees our faith.

James 5:14-16 (NIV)

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.