Praying for Others

Healing from cancer. Back rent paid in full. Marriage restoration. Comfort during grief. Suicide prevention. Hope rebuilt. These are just a few of the praise reports I have received over the years after praying for others.

I have prayed for hundreds of thousands of people on the CBN prayer line, during company chapel services, on media broadcasts, at conferences, at church services, on missions’ trips, and on the streets. I find joy in praying for others, especially when situations seem impossible and hopeless. There is something powerful about using my faith to trust God for breakthrough in the lives of others. I know that the power is not my own but is rooted in God’s ability to provide, heal, and restore.

Sometimes I find it easier to pray for others than to pray for myself. While I have experienced the power of praying for people in need, I have needed others to pray for me when I had tremendous needs. God has sent co-workers at CBN, church members, neighbors, friends, and even strangers to pray for me in times of need and times of plenty. Once, I needed financial miracles to remain in college which led to me receiving prayer from others. God then provided the money to finish school and I was overjoyed. At other times I needed wisdom on which strategies to use in my work at CBN. Receiving intercession from co-workers led to the implementation of God-ideas, which was followed by people receiving ministry around the world.   

The magnitude of intercessory prayer comes to life in 1 Kings 17. Elijah and the widow who was providing for him experienced the power of intercession after he prayed for her dying son. Elijah cried out in prayer to God on behalf of the son saying, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him” (1 Kings 17:21 CSB). Elijah knew that God had the power to raise the breathless son back to life. He trusted God to perform a miracle and he used his faith to petition God.

The Scripture goes on to say, “Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived” (1 Kings 17:22). Elijah’s prayer for the son was instrumental in his healing. The mother entrusting Elijah to pray for her dying son was also pivotal to his revival from death. The same power that raised the son still exists today.

No matter what your needs are today, God is ready to hear your prayer for help.

Prayer: Lord, I pray on behalf of your children. I ask that You meet their needs according to Your will and power. I also pray for intercessors to come into their lives and pray for them in a mighty way. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

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Scripture is quoted from the Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.