Bible Reading: James 5:13-20
Reason #8: Prayer is one way to show people that we love and care about them.
We have all experienced that helpless, useless feeling when faced with a person who has lost a loved one, learned he has cancer, or is in the midst of some other heartbreaking situation. Sending a card or flowers are nice and appropriate ways to offer comfort and show that we care, but there is something more powerful, more useful, and more effective that we can do to show hurting people that we care – pray.
James 5:16b from The Amplified Bible says, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” Prayer is powerful. Prayer is effective. Prayer is the most important thing we can do for anyone. It demonstrates our concern, our compassion, and our love.
Warren W. Wiersbe once said, “Don't every say to somebody, ‘Well, the least I can do is pray for you.’ My friend, the most you can do is pray, because intercession has great power, and intercession is a great privilege.”
Don’t sell prayer short. Don’t treat prayer as a last resort. Go ahead – send flowers and a card, but make prayer the first thing you do for the hurting people in your life.
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.” 1 Timothy 2:1
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of praying for others. In Jesus' name. Amen.