I heard the telltale dinging of my phone singling that a new message was waiting for my attention. As I read the swiftly typed words, I could see that this friend of mine was in need of immediate prayer.

A mother of four, young, busy children, and better half of one busy man, her hands and heart are often to the point of overflowing. But as of late, the physical body and overwhelmed soul of this friend has encountered much hardship. Suffering from depilating pain and numerous issues that have taken a toll on her normally healthy body, she reached out and asked a intimate group of friends for prayer. Believing that’s exactly what would fulfill her immediate need, I agreed to yelp at heavens throne on her behalf.

Working in ministry, I have encountered some who struggle to understand the concept of praying for others. There are those who struggle to know if praying for others even works in the grand scheme of life for if God is all knowing, all seeing, and everywhere at all times, has He not already decided the end result of any given situation or circumstance? Yes, He is and He does. But wisdom is quick to remind us that He is God and we, well… are not.

It is a debatable topic that has consumed many conversations and been discussed by far many more pastors and biblical scholars than one could count. And there may exist many different answers that make sense to many different people with many different opinions. But no matter the answers, no matter the debate, no matter how convincing the argument, no matter the many or multitude, it does not change the truth that is easily found within the pages of the playbook.

We pray for others because God tells us to pray for others.

God gives us instructions to pray for others in several places in the Bible, and specifically in the book of James, we are given a greater perspective into why we should lift others up in prayer:

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen.
James 5:16

Perhaps this complex question is answered by a most simple of answers. Perhaps we are encouraged to pray for others for it takes the focus off of ourselves and nourishes the soul of another with love, kindness, and care because those are the things that birth healing. By lifting others in prayer we fulfill one of the greatest commandments Christ gave us: we love our neighbour by putting their needs before our own. And when we do so, great things happen. For them and for us.

There is freedom to be found in the act of lifting up one’s voice to heavens throne for another. We are gifted a greater perspective of life outside of ourselves and greater clarity into our own struggles