Have you ever really thought about a prayer request from someone. I am sure that most readers of this site are regularly ask by someone to pray for them, or for a situation. I really began thinking about the mere action of a prayer request, and I realized that really the request has more in it then just a request of us to pray.
Go with me for a moment as I chase this rabbit. Sure when someone ask us to pray for them they are literally asking us to go to God with a petition for them. This is not to say that we must petition God for them for God to respond. No, they can go directly to God themselves, but they are asking others to go to God as well and petition with them. This means several things are true in the person's life at the time.
First of all they are admitting that they need help. They are saying to all that will listen, and to all that they ask, that they can not do it alone. They are admitting that they need to be partnered with others to see their way out of, or through, the current circumstance. This means that they are admitting that they need some human helpers in their life. They are also saying that they need for people to stand beside them, and support them in this area, or in this need, or in this situation, etc.
In addition, they are admitting that they are dependent on God to respond for this situation to be resolved. That is the only reason one would request an answer from God. Why request an answer from a being that can not resolve the situation. Their request is a admission that God will, and can determine the outcome. That is an amazing thing in a nation full of people devoted to self, self esteem, self gratification, and self destiny. The mere act of requesting prayer is an admission that they are not in complete control of their lives, the situation, and that they need assistance both from other humans and from heaven itself.
Secondly, and just as importantly, by requesting prayer they are acknowledging that there is a God. No one would ask you to pray to a being that they did not believe had control over their lives. I personally would never ask someone to pray to Buddha, or Mary Baker Eddy, or Mohammad, or any other human created or declared deities for me as I know that they, the other “deities”, have no control over my life.
This request also means that at least at the moment they are acknowledging the lordship of God. Indirectly they are saying that He is the king of kings, and the lord of lords. If God was not such, why not go to any number of other deities. The simple answer is that when you really need a answer you go to the being that you believe to be the only true and real God. Now some cynics may say that the person is only covering all their bases to be sure that their petition is heard by the right deity. The idea being that if you pray to them all, be it the true one or a false one, you will eventually hit the right one.
I, however, disagree with that notion. Most people that request prayer from a Christian have to realize that within the commandments there is a requirement that we must have no other God before Him. If they were merely covering their bases they would not call on a God that requires all other deities to be ignored. That sort of nullifies the request to all the other deities.
Thirdly, they are acknowledging the power of prayer. That is a great thing. They are admitting that prayer does, and can change the situation. What a statement of faith from a population that usually either looks no further then their nose for assistance, or looks entirely to others to carry and help them. Some will never admit their circumstance can change. The fact they are admitting that prayer is powerful enough to change them and their world is a wonderful statement of faith .
That is the real encouraging thing about a prayer request. It is a admission that their world can improve, and that no matter the circumstances God can and will control the out come. Why would they want anyone to pray to a deity that they do not believe can and will control the outcome.
That was just something I was thinking about. How many various admissions of dependence/ weakness and faith in God are in the mere request for prayer. Prayer is truly powerful and when someone request it from us we should follow through with enough faith to pray from them where we can join in the movement of God that will finally result. What a wonderful thing that God allows us to do. He allows us to not just request but to partner with Him in the resulting blessing.
Just something to think about. Have a wonderful day partnering with God in His work.
Stay strong, be courageous, and serve God in all thing.
