My phone said 5:05 a.m. I hit send, hoping she was sleeping tight. The goal was not to wake her but to be the first message she saw when she woke up.
M.W. is one of three friends that I pray for daily. I send a text every day, regardless of where I am or what I’m doing. I’ve texted in the wee hours of the morning while holding vigil in the hospital, from conferences, from family vacations, and from long walks during alone time. The point is to pray daily.
When I look at the time frame I’ve been sending these prayers, I’m surprised. Over seven years. How time flies. But don’t think I’m perfect in this effort. There have been days I’ve missed. Not intentionally, but by accident—like when I was stuck in the Chicago airport amid hundreds of others after my plane was canceled. Between the stress and the physical workout of simply maneuvering the crowd and getting to a hotel, it just got past me.
Still, that didn’t mean I didn’t pray. It just meant I forgot to email or text. My friends have grown to expect these prayers, and unbeknownst to me, every one fits their specific need for that day. And that is the work of Holy Spirit, our intercessor and the keeper of our prayers handed directly to the Father.
James wanted to stress the importance of accountability and the vital role prayer plays in that act (James 5:16). He showed us that vulnerability and truth before the Lord and our friends would lead us to a spiritual healing well worth the effort. James packed a punch when he said the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective. Our prayers can intervene for others when they can’t for themselves.
Why won’t folks share their deep prayer needs? Perhaps it’s illness, shame, or even pride. After all, we have a façade to maintain, one that God already sees through. Why try to hide it? We should confess our prideful sins, our deep needs, and allow our friends to pray for us, letting Holy Spirit take their prayers on our behalf and present them directly to the Great Healer. Prayers from those who love us work amazing things once Holy Spirit takes hold of them.
Pray for your friends, and let them pray for you.
Note from the author: You will notice that references to Holy Spirit are missing the word “the.” Instead, we recognize Holy Spirit as a person, part of the Trinity, and not as an inanimate object, but as our intercessor and worker in our hearts.
Cindy K. Sproles is a best-selling, award-winning author. She is a speaker and a conference teacher who teaches nationwide. Cindy is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries, www.christiandevotions.us, and www.inspireafire.com. She serves as a writing mentor with WRAMS (Writing Write Author Mentoring Service) and is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.