The Joy of Praying for Others...
Requests for prayers are always nice to receive for two reasons: first, because it means that the requester somehow believes in the power of prayer. And second, because it allows us to be a participant in His creative work.
How so? As the Lord listens to the prayer request and decides in His heart what He will do for this person in need, we are like a little assistant allowed to stay beside Him and quietly observe how He will respond with love to the person. Sometimes His answers to the prayers are straightforward and simply in the same form as what was requested. But more often than not, His response is indirect or hidden underneath something else, and then it becomes a real joy to witness the unfolding of graces and their transforming effects!
Praying for others can take on different forms. One type that I find meaningful is when I decide to pray for someone on a particular day of the week and commit to do so on an ongoing basis. This can go on for years, whether or not the person is even aware of it. It's like choosing to be a prayer partner, a silent assistant in the background. We can even offer our pains or sufferings for the intentions of the other. The person shares with us what she or he needs, or we can just intuit based on cues.
Praying for the other is like tugging at the Lord's sleeves and asking Him to please keep His attention focused on this person, and then trusting that He really knows best what is needed for this person.
Whatever form one decides, it is all about walking together and being present with both the person and with the Lord on the journey... It is also about staying close to the Lord and humbly and quietly assisting in His ever-creative work.
Happy praying!
2 comments:
What a beautiful reflection on prayer! Praying for someone on a regular basis even without that person knowing it takes commitment and is a true act of charity. Some people find it difficult to pray regularly, or don't pray at all, and can really use this kind of help.
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