If you take out the little problem of extra calories, super sizing is primarily a very good thing. In fact, I’m craving some of these fries right now…
I guarantee there are no extra calories in super-sized prayers – only extra benefits for all involved.
I would guess most of you have been on both sides of the “prayer process.” Part of being in the body of Christ, and part of being a friend, is to pray regularly for each other. Or perhaps, praying for friends as big needs arise in their lives.
Prayer is an often misunderstood and complicated part of the Christian walk. Scads of books and devotions and even sermons have been written on the topic. I guarantee this post is not even going to scratch the surface of this vital topic.
What I will attempt to do, regardless of what your personal prayer life looks like, is share an unexpected benefit I discovered this week in the process of praying for a friend. This prayer “tip” is so basic that it almost went unnoticed by both of us.
Typically, I pray over specific requests after my morning devotions, and when I go to bed, often just until I fall asleep! Of course there are popcorn prayers throughout the day as needs arise, both mine and others’.
This week, because I was focused on a friend’s difficult circumstances, I was more tuned into her needs. I started a new devotional and the very first day addressed exactly what she was struggling with. So, I forwarded it to her, hoping that it would give her some extra insights into her battle. And then I thought no more of it.
That is, until she called me later that day to let me know what a perfect message that was for her and her situation. I was grateful that it spoke into her circumstances. But then, she went a step further and commented on what made this connection so special.
So often when we pray for others, we can make our petitions, and then go about our days with no further thought about it. Almost like we send it off to the heavens and figure that God’s going to take it from there. Which, of course, he does, but that’s not necessarily the end of the story.
So, here’s the super-sizing part of this story. My friend recognized that the reason this devotional jumped out at me as a perfect message for her was because she had been on my heart.
Do we really think it was a coincidence that the morning after she shared her request with me, I started a devotion that spoke directly into her life? Nope. I’m definitely not a believer in coincidences.
I believe God, in his kind sovereignty, brought that message into my world specifically for my friend.
As we talked about this new revelation, we realized that we can truly have a more powerful, super-sized impact on the lives of those we pray for, if we start to listen more intently to how God might direct us in helping our friends.
And as a recipient, how important is it that we understand how God clearly works through others. When we ask God to help a friend deal with a specific circumstance, or heart “condition,” should we be surprised that we, the pray-ers, will be used of God to speak into the exact circumstances we’re praying about?
I know this may seem a bit circuitous or random, but I’m convinced it’s one example of how God can super-size our prayers. He can make them more than simply our petitions to him on behalf of someone in need. He can choose to work through any of us to give our friend practical, concrete, specific and timely insights into their unique circumstances.
My prayer for all of us is that we can be so in tune with God’s Spirit, that we recognize the opportunities he presents to us where we can individually and uniquely bless those he’s placed on our hearts.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
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