“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

How often do we use these words…All I can do is pray.  It sounds like a last resort, when all else has failed. In actuality calling on our sovereign and almighty God should be the first course of action in any situation; praying to God should not be left as a 911 emergency only. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 state “Pray without ceasing.” We have the awesome privilege to come boldly before the throne of grace, taking our petitions before the Lord.

It is also impossible to go before God and not lift others. If we truly love others we will pray for their welfare, peace and salvation. The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:9 prayed for the saints; it gives us insight into the spiritual things that we should be praying for others.

Therefore, I am not only praying for the physical, but spiritual needs of my sisters and brothers in Christ, as Paul wrote, I pray that they will:

• Grow in their devotion to God and walk in alignment with God’s purposes.
• Receive understanding and knowledge to carry out God’s will
• Be able to walk worthy of His calling and be pleasing in His sight.
• Be fruitful or productive in service . . . so that their lives make a difference.
• Increase in knowledge, growing daily in the word of God and applying what they’ve learned.
• Become spiritually stronger day by day and experience the power of God. God’s power helps us to understand that nothing is impossible with and through Him.
• Give thanks and gratitude to God in all circumstances whether favorable or unfavorable.
• Seek to acquire patience. This will give us the strength to deal with the trials and misfortunes that we face in life.
• Learn to be longsuffering toward others or to be compassionate and understanding of their faults (simply extending the same grace that God so lovingly gives us to others.)
• Always giving thanks to God for giving us salvation by His amazing grace!

Again, it is essential that we consistently devote ourselves to prayer for others. When we pray for God’s spiritual blessings in their lives, then the physical needs will follow. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

When God provides we will always be satisfied.