Philippians 1:4 – Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy. (KJV)

2 Timothy 1:3 – I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day. (KJV)

Every day, in numerous instances, be it personally, locally, or globally, there is an overwhelming need for prayer. An uncountable number of people pray for loved ones, for friends, for friends of friends, and for those not even known to them … and who likely never will be.

We believe that God hears, listens to, and answers our prayers, not perhaps with the results that we want, though with what God considers necessary. Jesus promised, "If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19 NRSV). Accordingly, each of these devotionals is accompanied by the PrayerLine, where readers are invited to post their prayer requests.

To the right of most prayer requests is a little button with the words, I prayed for you. We can click on that to let the person requesting the prayer know that someone has prayed for them, regardless of whether it's something that they are requesting for themselves or for someone else.

After reading each prayer, I touch the screen and say, Lord, hear my prayer. Then, often, but not always, I click on the button with the understanding that the prayer petitioner would know that I had prayed for them, but admittedly, not ever giving it further thought.

Not, that is, until I was on the other side of the PrayerLine, requesting prayers for someone, did I realize how important it is to let people know that their prayers are seen and supported by anonymous, caring people.

Within the past five months, I've had two occasions to request prayers on behalf of someone else. I found out that at the end of each day, the clicks are tallied and a report is sent to the petitioner to let them know how often their prayer was lifted up. The report also includes any encouraging messages that people have left after clicking on that little button.

Words escape me to express fully how heartwarming and encouraging it is to receive that report each day and pass it along to the person for whom my prayer was requested.

That support is a gift that we can freely give to someone, with just the simple click of a little button. How much easier could it be?

Prayer: Lord, You have given us the gift of prayer, whether lengthy or with a few simple words such as I prayed for you today or May I pray for you? In those times when we may be at a loss for words to pray, thank You that You have given us the words of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. It is through Your name that we pray and give thanks for each day. Amen.

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About the author:

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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