Week 2 - Day 4
THE MISSION
Pray
HOW CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?
To keep things fresh, we will be using the Lord’s Prayer as our template rather than the Daily Directions.
Use a sentence or bullet points to finish these statements.
Our Father in heaven.
I thank you that You are our Father because …
Your name be honored as holy
In …
Your Kingdom come.
May Your rule and reign come to …
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
What promises does Jesus give us about prayer?
How might these promises about prayer impact our mission to those who need Jesus?
Mark 10:46-52 (NLT)
Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
Why do you think Jesus ask the rather obvious question, “What do you want me to do for you?”
How might asking people, “What do you want Jesus to do for you?” be a powerful witness to the compassion of Jesus?
A very effective way to show that you care for people, and more importantly that God cares for them, is to ask “How can I pray for you?” You’ll be amazed at how many people take a moment to think about it and share a prayer request with you.
Why is the question “How can I pray for you?” better than the question “Can I pray for you?”
If they share a request with you, say, “Thanks for sharing that. Would you mind if I pray for that right now. I’ll keep it short, but I would love to pray for that.” If they say, “No, I’m not comfortable with that,” obviously honor that. Just assure them that you will be praying for them. Other people, however, will allow you to pray with them right then and there.
Here are seven things to keep in mind as you pray. They come from Kevin Harney’s Organic Outreach for Ordinary People (p. 119):
Keep your prayer brief. In most cases less than a minute is wise.
Use common language. Don’t make your prayer flowery and don’t use the King’s English. Let your words of prayer be conventional and natural.
Extend a hand if it is appropriate. If you feel it would be taken the right way, take the person’s hand or place your hand on their shoulder. There is power in touch. [It probably is good to simply ask, “Do you mind if I put my hand on your shoulder as we pray?”]
Pray for the person’s specific need or joy. Focus your prayer on what they shared with you and don’t wander to other topics. Keep it simple; don’t turn your prayer into a chance to preach a sermon.
Pray in the name of Jesus. There is power in Jesus’ name. God already knows and cares about the person you are praying for. Make sure they know to whom you are praying and who to thank if the prayer is answered.
Check in to see how things are going. After a week or two, check in and see if the need has been met or if the joy is continuing to flow. If so, give God the glory. If the need persists, keep praying.
Be sensitive to location and volume. If you are in a public place, step out of the flow of traffic. You may be comfortable with prayer, but it might be new territory for the person receiving it. Seek a little privacy if possible. Also, pray quietly. Remember, the only people who need to hear are you, the person you are praying for, and God.
Bottom line: Keep It Simple. In the end, wouldn’t it be great if the person thought, “Well, if that’s prayer, I could have done that” and they started praying on their own?
The hope, of course, is that as God answers the prayer, the person would connect the dots between the prayer and how God has moved in their life. Then they would realize that God is there for them and cares for them. This encounter with the Living God could lead to important questions about prayer and faith and God’s role in their life and a conversation with you about these matters.
One of the most powerful ways you can care for people is to simply ask them, “How can I pray for you?” And sometimes you don’t even need to ask the question because it will be obvious. As you’re interacting with someone they may mention a loved one who sick or a relational problem at home or a financial difficulty they are facing. That’s when the question becomes, “Can I pray for that?” “Thanks for sharing that. Can I pray for that?” You could add, “I believe in God and I believe He hears our prayers. I would love to pray for that with you. Could I do that with you?” And then keep in mind the seven things from above.
Again, this is from Kevin Harney:
Many Christians have never thought to pray with an unbeliever. It seems strange and out of place … until you do it. The truth is that many of the people you know who are not followers of Jesus would love to have you pray for them. They know you believe in God, and they suspect that you believe there is power in prayer. When you lift up their need or joy, you confirm what they already know about you as a Christian.
When you pray with an unbeliever, all kinds of amazing things can happen. God’s presence can be felt as he draws near in the power of the Spirit. God’s power can be seen as prayers are answered. Spiritual seekers can see that your faith is real and you have a relationship (a friendship) with God. They see that your faith is not some religious game—it’s real! Doors are opened for ongoing spiritual conversations as they ask you questions like, “Do you really think what happened was an answer to prayer?” And you’ll find that your heart will begin to connect with others in new ways as faith becomes a part of the fabric of your relationship.
You might find yourself wondering, with all these benefits, why not take a chance and offer to pray with people in your life who are not yet Christ’s followers? Honestly, I can’t think of any reason to wait (pp. 122-123).
Now, look for opportunities to pray for the people in your life, especially YOUR 3.
Lord, I hear you saying to me …
So with Your help I will …
Give us today our daily bread.
Meet our daily needs of …
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Forgive my sin of … and I forgive … of their sin against me of …
And do not bring us into temptation.
Help me to withstand the temptation of …
But deliver us from the evil one.
Satan is attacking me by … and I need Your help.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.