Just A Thought

I often share a classic story that we tell in my family that captures the idea praying for others. My maternal grandparents used to travel from Oregon to Montana once year to visit. At that time in their lives they were not attending church. One day my Grandmother was obviously distraught. My eight-year-old brother noticed, and asked her what was wrong. She told him that she had a headache and was not feeling well. 

Since my brother had been well-trained in Sunday School, he responded to her need in faith. He told her that Jesus would heal her if he prayed for her. She agreed and he took her hand and prayed for her. Withing minutes, my grandmother’s headache was gone. That prayer not only gave pain relief, it made an impression on my grandmother. In later years, she made a greater commitment to God, was baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The fact that she often retold this story indicates just how powerful praying for others can be.

It has been my experience that praying for others has many benefits. Here are a few.

·      People blessed

·      Answered prayers strengthens everyone’s faith

·      It helps us be more graceful and empathetic toward others

·      God is able to reach people who were not already open to believing in Him

Sometimes praying for others is easier than praying for ourselves. According to Scripture, we don’t earn healing, but our attitude can make a difference in how God responds to our needs and our requests. Sometimes it is easier to have a right attitude when we are praying for someone else’s needs. I was once asked to pray for someone’s sister who was in the hospital. When I found her, she was in a coma and the family was not there. So, it was just me, her, and Jesus. I was not emotionally involved, and it was not me that was in need. So, I just prayed on principle, knowing that God hears and answers prayer. I don’t remember feeling anything. A few weeks later I heard that she came out of her coma. 

On another occasion, I prayed for a domestic situation of someone who came to church but was having trouble committing her life to God. She had been missing church and had invited a man to move in with her. One day I stopped at a grocery store and met her in the parking lot. I asked how it was going and she admitted that she had been unwise in inviting a guy to move in. Now she wanted him to leave but she couldn’t get him out or her house. I suggested that she repent and pledge to God that she would get back on track if He would help her with her situation. I prayed for her there in the parking lot. Later she told me that upon arriving home from the grocery story her live in was angry about something and told her he was leaving and never coming back. 

I have found that it is often my own fear or pride that keep me from being bold enough to pray for others. Once I recognized how selfish that is, I determined to make the most of every opportunity to pray for others. As a result I have been blessed to see many miracles.  

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Wednesday, December 17, 2025