Will you pray for me?
A few days, on my way home, I called a friend (I’ll call her T.) that we have been getting to know on Saturday mornings (see “Opportunities to Serve“). T. is a sister in Christ who has been struggling recently with several different problems. On Saturday mornings we have had the opportunity to talk with her, pray with her, listen to her, and even provide the Bible on CD and other helps for her.
When we go to her home, T. often thanks us for spending time with her, and we remind her that we need her as much as she needs us. Until recently, I don’t think she believed that last part. I do think she’s beginning to believe that we love her and care for her, but I don’t think she believed that we needed her as much as she needed us. (And, in a way, I’m still learning this as well.)
So, I called T. to check on her. The last few weeks have been especially rough as she has dealt with some family issues on top of other things. I asked how she was doing, and she told me about her week. I encouraged her and told her that I was proud of some of the decisions she had made.
As I was beginning to end the phone conversation, T. asked if I would pray for her. I told her that I pray for her often, and that I would continue to pray for her. She said, “Will you pray for me now over the phone?” (Yes, I was dense and didn’t realize this was what she was asking.)
I agreed and prayed for her right then over the phone. When I finished praying, she thanked me. This was when God taught me something. I remembered the last time I had talked with T. – how I had told her that I needed her as much as she needed me. So, I asked her to pray for me. She also said that she prays for me often. And I said, “Will you pray for me now over the phone?”
At first she stopped… like I said, I think she still thought of me as the “minister” and her as the one being ministered to. But, then she prayed for me. And, in the middle of her prayer, as she was thanking God for me and my family, T. said, “And, God, I really think they needed to meet me as much as I needed to meet them!” And she said it with much more enthusiasm than my one exclamation point.
So, it seems that God is teaching both of us. We need one another. Yes, there are ways that I can help T. deal with some issues in her life. But, at the same time, I can learn from and be encouraged by T. as well.
Why? Because God works through his children to the benefit of his other children – whether they are young or old, rich or poor, male or female, novice or mature. We need one another.
This is exactly what I’m talking about enjoying reading your journeys about doing life with Christ. Brilliant post that affected me in terms of when we put in practice our need for each other and see it benefit us in ways we don’t yet know! I love it.
Keep it up Alan and never forget to share with us when it doesn’t work as well!
Great story Alan,
I’ve started doing this with my 7 year old and it’s amazing the difference it makes. I share with her when I’m fristrated and ask her to pray for me….and she does and it helps her to see…
1.I’m not perfect, none of us are
2. That I apply scripture and prayer to my life to help me walk through things.
Great story!
This reminds me of Romans 1.12 where Paul tells the Romans of his desire to come to them so that they can mutually encourage one another by their faith, “Yours and mine” he says. What a great example from the Apostle Paul, who could’ve been haughty but instead chose to be humble to the point that he understood even he, the apostle to the gentiles, could be encouraged by these Roman believers. I posted on this verse a few days ago at my site, as this verse really reminded me of Dr. Black’s every-member ministry and his emphasis on one-anothering.
Christopher,
Much of what I write on my blog begins in theory from studying Scripture. But, I always try to live what I learn from Scripture. This is just one example.
Camel Rider,
Another great example! What a joy it has been for us to not only teach our children, but to listen to and to learn from them as well. If they are God’s children, then he can teach and exhort through them.
Jeff,
Yes. I wrote about the Romans 1:12 passage recently also. It seems that Paul was looking forward to going to Rome because he needed them as much as they needed him.
-Alan