subject: Keeping Up With Prayer Requests [print this page] Most of us hear about prayer requests at church on Sundays. We read about them in the church bulletin and sometimes, we get a phone call or email asking us to pray for someone. The question is, what happens next? Do we keep up with those requests for prayer? Do we follow up with the person who requested the prayer in the first place? Sadly, many of us do not. Oh, we're glad to pray when we hear of a need, but often, unless we are especially close to the person in need, the requests we hear on Sunday morning are forgotten by Sunday night.
It's not intentional, of course. But how powerful would it be if we started keeping up with those in need of prayer? How powerful would it be to let the person in need know that we are praying for them and that we care. While this isn't always feasible, just jotting a quick note, making a phone call, or sending an email would do wonders for the spirits of those in need.
This is a great way to jumpstart your own prayer life. Have you ever felt that you need to pray more but just haven't taken the time to put your plan into action? Praying for others is a great way to jumpstart a lackadaisical prayer life. Magical things begin to happen when you take time to pray for others on a regular basis. For one thing, you start thinking more about others and less about yourself and your own problems.
Just hearing about the problems others face often puts our own issues into perspective. It's hard to be angry at children or husbands who we feel aren't helping out enough around the house when all around us, it seems, people are dying of cancer, losing their homes, or losing their jobs. When we become concerned with the needs of others, our own needs often pale by comparison.
Just jotting down a few names and needs in a notebook will remind us to check on those who have asked for prayer. It will let them know that someone cares and it will remind us how powerful prayer is. We know God answers prayer but wouldn't it brighten your day to know the outcome of some of those requests? Of course, there will be times when the outcome is not bright, times when you will be reminded to keep on praying for an individual, but isn't that what is important?
While no one can keep up with all prayer requests that come their way, try to pick at least a few and follow them through. It will change your life
