Ever noticed the people you are the closest too are the same
ones you joke way too much with? My friend Jason has been the closest friend I
have had for the longest amount of time, 17 years. Often in order to help us
deal with stress and such we would say things to each other that would try to
lighten the mood and level of stress. We would often tell each other to die
when we ended a conversation. We would end conversations like the title to this
blog. It isn’t true but basically would lighten the mood to let us know don’t
take everything that happens as life or death.
Jason and I cared for each other and often I would pray for
him and he would do the same for me we just never talked about it. This past
week he was talking to me and said, “I was praying for what you were going through.”
I knew we prayed for each other but we never really talked about it. We were
close and sometimes missed the point of friendship. Prayer does matter in life and
I truly believe that, yet prayer wasn’t always a huge priority.
I had a bad habit for a while. Years ago people would ask me
to pray for them, and I would say it and often forget. We are people of the
moment. I came into the realization that if I do not pray for things right
then, I most likely won’t pray for them. As a result I changed the way I pray.
When people ask for prayer on social media, rather than saying I will pray, I
write just prayed because I will pray for it before writing a response. We all
need help in life, prayer can change and mold us.
Even the greatest Christians in the Bible ask for prayer.
Paul spends the end of chapter 15 in the book of Romans talking about prayer
for him.
Romans 15:30-33…
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by
our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle
by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the
unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be
favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may
come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. The
God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
Paul did some amazing things in his life. He still was
seeking prayer for problems in his life and what was happening with the contributions.
People gave him to give to the church in Jerusalem would be received with open
arms. He wanted to bring joy with and hoped they would feel refreshed. I love verse 32-33 coming with joy, being
refreshed and through the God of peace be with them all. I love it and what
pray and God can do.
Everyone needs prayer and I am one of those people. We all
know people in our lives that could use prayer. Who can you pray for today or
what can you ask prayer for? While we do joke around a lot, Jason and I do pray
for each other and care for each other. Prayer shows that you care and you are
not afraid to admit there is a God who loves you and wants to be involved in
your life. All you have to do is go to him.
Have a great day.
