A Word About Prayer

I have known for a long time about the potential for intimacy that prayer creates. Praying creates a certain kind of intimacy with the One to whom we pray. When I realize that God has allowed me to come into his presence with an open invitation to share with him whatever is on my heart, it warms me. I feel somehow closer, more intimately known to God. And when I direct my prayer to God on behalf of some person in need, or some group of individuals I want to pray for, I feel a connectedness to that person or that group of people, sometimes people and groups I’ve never even met. There’s a certain closeness or intimacy that comes with praying ‘for’ people, I think.

Lately, I’ve been praying for you. If you’re listening to my voice, I’m praying for you. If you’re reading the words that I’ve written in a piece or one of my books, I’m praying for you. Perhaps we’ve met. But most likely, we’ve never been introduced personally. But that doesn’t mean I can’t pray for you. In fact, lately I’ve felt specifically impressed to talk to the God I know personally about the needs of my listeners and readers, people I may not know personally. And I am struck by the closeness I feel, the intimacy I experience when I pray for you.

It may seem strange that I could pray for the needs of so many people I do not even know, and feel like my prayers are making a difference. But that would only be true if I was praying without some direction from God. I am grateful for the many examples of prayer in His word; prayers directed toward groups of people, offered by sincere men who genuinely care about those being lifted up. And so, I will share with you my prayer from scripture, if you are listening to my voice, or reading my words. My prayer is not original with me. The Apostle Paul directed it toward the church in Ephesus. But it is a beautiful expression of what I am asking God to do in your life. Here, then is my earnest prayer on your behalf today:

“I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.
This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.”

May His kingdom come and his will be done in your life today. That’s my specific prayer for you.”