My father (who is a pastor) felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to call a prayer meeting this Sunday morning specifically for families to pray together and for each other. It was a wonderful moment spent in the presence of God talking to Him about my husband, my son, parents, sisters, brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews.

But there’s something that struck me that my dad mentioned before we went into the prayer part of the service. He said that so often when we decide to pray it is all about ourselves; our prayers end up being so self-centered and selfish. He encouraged us to pray for each other and not in selfish ways either (as in God fix my husband/wife/child/mother/father/sister/brother/friend/etc.) but to really and genuinely pray for the well being and spiritual journey of that person.

Tonight as I held my son before putting him to bed I whispered a prayer over him and I felt just a peace wash over me. While I felt at peace praying for my son, I also started thinking of how I need to pray and ask God for help with everything going on in my life right now. But then, just as the thought came to pray for MY needs, I remembered what my dad said about how our prayers tend to be selfish sometimes and I decided I need to pray for someone, anyone except myself.

So of course I went to social media… I told Facebook that I feel lead to pray for someone and asked my contact list to make a comment below if they would like me to pray for them. As the comments and requests started to come in my heart swelled and I felt honored to pray for these people. I felt somehow that they had entrusted me with something special. Some people mentioned specific requests, some asked me just to pray for them.

As I write this, my night is not yet over and it’s been only  about 40 min since I made the post on Facebook. I haven’t gotten to my knees yet to pray for these people that have shared their requests with me, however I wanted to share this special moment with you and encourage you to pray for someone else. Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have against the evilness in this world and the troubles of this life yet so often we don’t use it, or we let it collect dust or we doubt it’s ability.

Tonight, today, this morning, wherever you are, I encourage you to pray. Even if you think you may not know how, even if the words don’t come out right, just pray. If you feel you don’t know where or how to get started use The Lord’s Prayer. If you don’t know how that goes I’ve posted it below. Feel free to refer back to this post if you ever need a reminder. And if you would like me to pray for you, please don’t hesitate to message me and I will certainly pray for you.

Our Father

Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen.