Whenever a friend or family member is in need, I pray for them. Sometimes I ask them "Can I pray for you?". Sometimes, if I see their name in the church bulletin or hear about it through the grapevine, I send them a card to let them know that I am praying for them. But what does this do?
First, it makes ME aware of the struggles of others. It takes me out of my comfort and puts my thoughts with those who are in discomfort.
Also, it helps ME be confident in the community of believers. I know that I have been healed through prayer and that the thought of someone praying for me is so wonderful and overwhelming and that I hope to communicate that to others.
And too, it centers ME to the business of living as Christ lived, communicating needs to our Father and having confidence that He has a plan and that plan is for me and those I love.
"What is the purpose of prayer? All too often, we think it's to change God's mind, when in fact, the real purpose of prayer is to change us." Woodeene Koenig-Bricker
Yes, I would like to pray for you and it does ME a world of good too :)
Prayer is a strange thing when you think about it--do we need to tell God things God doesn't know? Do we really want to change God's mind? How does it really work? But the thing is, it does. As some famous bishop (who, .I can't remember!) said, "People sometimes say that prayed-for outcomes are just coincidences. But all I know is that when I quite praying, the coincidences stop." AND--it does the prayer a world of good, as Jody say!
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