Is Praying for Someone Better Than Bringing a Casserole?

I may not be able to do anything about a situation, but I can pray to the One who can.

I had just hung up the phone with my friend Stacey. My heart was heavy for her. Her father was in the hospital facing an uncertain future.

I was at a loss as to how I could offer support. Her adult children were helping with meals and housekeeping. When I asked how I could assist, she asked me to pray for her family.

This didn’t seem like much. I wanted to do something more substantial, like bringing a casserole or running an errand for her.

However, one of the most significant actions one can take is to pray for someone else’s needs. It takes the request to the One who can make a difference.

Prayer is an act of obedience.
The Lord has instructed us to bring our requests to Him with thanksgiving.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)

Prayer acknowledges God’s sovereignty.
Many times, we feel helpless when others are suffering. Placing those requests at the feet of Jesus expresses that He has total control over the situation.

Prayer surrenders the issue to Him.
Presenting our request demonstrates having faith that He hears and will act according to our best interests. This results in a heartfelt peace.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)

When we pray for others in their time of need, we join our hearts with them. We are supporting them by sharing their burdens.

“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
James 5:16b (NASB 1995)

Next time someone asks you to pray, don’t consider it trivial and inconsequential. Remember, you are doing one of the most effective and important things for the situation at hand.