Do you have set times when you pray?

That’s good, but there are other times we should pray, too.

“I’ll be praying for you.”

I’ve heard that phrase a lot and say it myself. You hear about something difficult someone is going through and you promise to pray for them.

How wonderful!

Today, we are encouraged to not just pray for each other, but be alert.

We should be looking for opportunities to pray for each other. Sometimes it may be obvious, like when a friend tells us about something difficult they are going through.

Sometimes, however, people don’t share their struggles. Have you ever seen someone you knew and they said everything was fine, but you could tell something wasn’t quite right?

That’s being alert.

The passage also talks about praying in the Spirit. This is another way to be alert for how to pray for others. Instead of just praying for the things we know about, be quiet in your prayer and ask God to direct your prayers. Then, be alert for who God leads you to pray for.

My parents tell me of a time when I was a little boy. We were doing our family devotions and, when it was my turn to pray, along with praying my normal prayers, I prayed for Mrs. Farber (I think that was her name) to feel better. After we were done praying, my parents asked me why I prayed for her. I said I didn’t know.

Shortly after, they found out that Mrs. Farber was sick. I didn’t know that, but God had put it in my mind to pray for her.

Sometimes, there are things God wants us to pray about, but which we don’t or even cannot know about. So, He places it on our hearts to pray.

I want to encourage you to do that. If you feel like you should pray for someone. Do it. You may find out later that the person needed that. Then again, you may never know why, but God does.

So, let’s be praying for each other.

Heavenly Father,

Please make me alert to the needs of others and encourage me to pray for them. When I do not know about the needs of others, guide me in my prayers to pray for them. Today, I want to pray for these people specifically…

Amen.