How powerful is this kind of prayer?
Something God has so kindly put on my heart lately is to pray for people the moment they cross my mind. Instead of having thoughts like, “I wonder how Sarah is doing,” “Oh yes, that surgery for Don is coming up,” “I hope Sherry is experiencing supernatural peace,” and “I hope Reilly’s husband is healing,” God put the question on my heart, what might happen if I start praying more and thinking less? I’ve put this to practice and it’s been transformative for my heart. Not just by praying the things I’m already thinking about, but also praying in belief of GOOD THINGS for people I love. The other side of this revelation God has given me is to pray for people I don’t know when they cross my mind. Praying for those we know and love feels obvious, right? But how often do we stop to pray for strangers when they cross our mind? People that we will likely never have the opportunity to tell we prayed for them or see God’s provision over their life? How powerful is that kind of prayer?
When we pray for people God puts on our minds, strangers that are experiencing heartbreaking realities we see on the news or someone we follow on the Internet but don’t personally know, how can God use that? I had a fire in my soul about this recently that has really motivated me to share. I’ve started praying immediately when these people come across my mind, knowing my prayers are not void but that God multiplies His blessings when we meet Him in prayer. Not only do I believe He is surrounding those strangers in His presence but He also meets me.
Luke 5:17–26 tells us the story of Jesus forgiving and healing a paralyzed man. It’s a neat illustration of a man being saved because of the faith of his friends. I pray we would not only pray to God with this kind of faith for our “friends,” but also for those who we may not be as close to that God allows to cross our minds. Your prayers contribute to a blessing that goes beyond our own souls and reaches the people that will never hear them. God, I pray this message today would swing open the gates of heaven. Allow us to experience you through our awareness that our prayers are powerful. Amen.
“One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’” Luke 5:17–26 (NIV)
Britt Goff is the founder of Wheat and Honey Co. and lives in DFW with her husband, Michael, son, Hudson, and golden retriever, Tucker. Britt is a Gaylord College of Journalism graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a background in professional sports marketing, advertising agency corporate client management, and media sales. After years in the corporate world God captured her heart to hold spaces for women with the hope of leading them to a place of experiencing intimate encounters with Him. Her prayer is that the products and retreats you find through W&HC would hold space for you to dwell with our Father, experiencing Him in ways that lead us all deeper in our love for who He is.