I’ll pray for you.  My prayers are with you.  We’ll keep you in our prayers.  Recognize these statements?  Have you ever been on the receiving end of these words of comfort?  At some point, I’m certain, you’ve experienced some type of tragedy, pressure, difficulty, loss, or frustration in your life that left you with no answers to a thousand questions.  As men, when we finally get the courage to reach out and mention our hurt to someone, it’s usually deep.

Next Question.  Have you been on the giving end of those statements?  Have you ever offered to keep someone in your prayers?  Did you follow through with it?

We get busy and let our mouths speak the right words while our hearts are rushing ahead to concerns of our own.  We lose sight of the fact that the challenges people face on a daily basis are a very real and present reality.  It is the responsibility of Christians (that is anyone who professes to be a follower of Jesus Christ) to pray.  The power of prayer is often misunderstood and relegated to the “protocol” of being a believer.  When our lives are transformed by the love of God we cannot help but be concerned for the things God cares about.  Jesus Christ taught us that our belief brings us to a very real place where the prayers we offer are done with complete faith.  Casually telling someone that you’ll pray for them and not mean it or do it… is just as close to using God’s name in vain as a lousy, profane word.  It’s empty and damaging.

If you tell someone you’ll pray for them but don’t…it is like the pharisee in the courts who is praying out loud in public so his religion can be seen by everyone.  Strong words… but telling someone you’ll pray for them just so you have the “right words to say” is a total lack of understanding of faith and God’s provision for us.

When you offer prayer… you are unlocking the power of Christ and God Almighty on the face adversity.  The book of James reminds us that “the prayers of righteous men (people) are powerful and effective”.  This is not something you casually toss out with a wink and a nod.  The hurting soul and the person melting inside clings to your words and hopefully waits to experience the comforting hand of the Creator of the Universe.  If you’re not going to pray for someone… please don’t mislead them.  I’m sure you would want the same in the times of your own adversity.

I’m not perfect.  I have said those words and not meant them, nor followed up on them.  I confess that to you and have confessed that to God.  I will never wield that sword unless I plan to use it.  I believe that prayer changes lives… I’ve seen it and I’ve experienced it.  I am grateful for the people who pray for me… I know they mean it and I know they do.  It has and does change my life.

In the words of my very wise grandfather:  ”say what you mean… and mean what you say”.
Download Article