Pray for Family And Friends: TWGN Devotional - 4th November

SCRIPTURE:   Ephesians 3:14-21,Philippians 1:3-6,1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 25 

Devotion 

Concentrate on the needs of others by interceding for family and friends.  At times, it takes a crisis to shift our focus from praying for ourselves to praying for others in our lives. Personally, one of those pivotal moments arose after a challenging period when my middle son experienced a birth injury that physicians claimed would permanently affect his capabilities. Like any mother, I was heartbroken and overwhelmed with concerns about the challenges my child would encounter.

In a time when I could have turned inwards to address my own emotions and worries, the Lord transformed that experience into growth in my prayer life for my son. I boldly and persistently asked the Lord to intervene in ways that medical experts said were unfeasible. In many instances, God did just that.

Learning to communicate with God about the people we cherish most is a means for us to offer support and care in circumstances that appear hopeless. Frequently, we say things like, “Well, I suppose all I can do is pray…” as if prayer is a fallback option rather than a primary response. Interceding for friends and family is the most powerful way to assist, serve, and express love to them.

Today, let's shift our gaze outward and consider the lives of those around us. Who is contending with a health issue? Who needs encouragement amid adversity? Who has received a blessing that we can thank God for His generosity?

Begin by reflecting on your family tree. Take time to pray for your spouse, children, parents, siblings, and extended family, contemplating each of their needs, challenges, and moments of joy. Next, extend your prayers to your friends, the ones who understand you best, those you work alongside, and those who are far from God.

Adopt a structured approach. Start with those who are closest to you and gradually extend outward. Pray for everyone you can recall, from that co-worker who drives you insane to that aunt who has consistently prayed for you over the years. Share with God the issues you wish you could solve in the lives of those around you, recognizing that you are unable to do so. Ask Him to intervene in places where you have been attempting to fix things for others, and trust Him to work in their lives just as He is in yours.

God hears our prayers on behalf of our loved ones. His love for them surpasses our own. He witnesses the tears shed in solitude and listens to every anguished cry they express in their suffering. He comprehends the joy they experience in new journeys while also being aware of the fears and doubts that accompany them. He knows which paths the wayward have taken and the struggles faced by the cancer patient. He sees. He hears. He knows. Dedicate today to loving your people through prayer for them.

PRAYER POINT: Dear God, today I raise up our family __________________. 

■ Pray for your immediate and extended family members, as well as friends who feel like family.

■ Pray for friends and family who are enduring difficult times and for those who do not know Jesus or are distant from Him.