As I was searching the Bible this week for examples of people being strengthened in the Lord, I stumbled across a passage that seems like hidden treasure to me. 1 Samuel 23 tells about David hiding from Saul. Though David never lost faith, he was struggling with fear and discouragement as we all do from time to time – especially in the face of difficulty or danger. Jonathan, the son of David’s enemy, risked life and the favor of his father to go to his friend in time of need. The passage says that Jonathan, “went to David and helped him find strength in God.”
Friends, this should always be our goal in encouraging others. We should not encourage people to find strength in themselves, their circumstances, other people, or in us – true encouragement is to find strength in God alone. David later echoed this same sentiment in one of his Psalms.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD.”
Psalm 20:7
When we offer the encouragement of prayer, we are helping to strengthen others in God as Jonathon did. When we lift up the concerns of our friends, we are acknowledging the power of God to answer those prayers. When we pray with someone, we are bringing them to the feet of Jesus to find comfort and healing and help. When we ask the discouraged how we can pray for them, we are bearing witness to our faith and trust in His compassion and sovereignty.
Prayer is seen as intensely personal to some, difficult and uncomfortable to others – but Prayer is also a form of encouragement that we can offer to those we don’t even know. Here are some practical ideas for putting the encouragement of prayer into practice with our friends and family as well as strangers on the street.
Make a prayer strategy:
Write down the names of people you intend to pray for intentionally. This could be on a sheet of paper or in a journal. Keep a record of the things you pray for and when they are answered. I make an index card each year for each of my family members. I write the year and the things I am praying for on the cards and make notes through the year of how they are answered. I keep the cards in a photo album and add the new year on top of the last. I can flip through the album as I pray and sometimes take out the previous cards to be reminded of God’s work in their lives throughout the years. I have also used prayer Apps like Echo to keep a list of people to pray for.
Pray as you go:
Pray immediately when your path intersects with a discouraged person. Sometimes I lift those prayers silently, but whenever possible I ask if I can pray with a person immediately. Stopping to pray on the spot ensures that I do not just say, “I will pray for you.” but then forget to do so, and it also encourages the heart of the person I am praying for at that very moment. It may seem uncomfortable to do this at first, but I am always blessed by the encouragement the person receives.
Send a note or message:
I can certainly pray for others without ever letting them know, but it is very encouraging to know that someone is praying for you. A confirmation of this prayer in writing encourages the recipient immediately and serves as a reminder later as well.
Ask how you can pray specifically:
I have been amazed at the responses I get when I ask this question. Many people pause and reflect as though it might be their one opportunity to answer. Some have remarked that they have never been asked the question before. A few have said they don’t need prayer or that I should save the prayer for someone who might need it more. Regardless of their answer, I still pray for them, but I find that the thought that I might actually care enough to ask is encouraging itself. The question is important and valuable and often opens the door to more opportunities for encouragement.
Partner in prayer:
In the last year, a friend offered to partner with me in prayer over a concern in my family. We agreed to meet – by phone – to talk and pray together. After the first meeting, she asked if we could make an appointment to pray together on a regular basis. We quickly expanded our partnership to praying for both of our families, and we have been amazed and grateful at the work we have seen God do in our lives. At first, I assumed this was a ministry my friend had offered to many people throughout the years, but I was astounded to discover that this was the first time she had partnered in prayer this way. We have both been so blessed by this time together and we continue to strengthen each other in the Lord.
Form a Prayer Group:
I once painted in a home where a lady met with a small group of women from her church to pray every week. They asked for the congregation to submit prayer requests to them weekly and they committed to lifting them to God together. These women poured their hearts out week after week for each other, for their families, and for their church.
Whether you choose to pray in person with someone or silently offer prayers on their behalf, practicing the encouragement of prayer is something we all can and should do regularly.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be make for all people.”
1 Timothy 2:1