Prayer Matters

I was in a local business here in Sumter the other day when I saw it.  There was a sign on a counter along with slips of paper and a pen.  Alice Drive Baptist Church, which is a fine church here in Sumter, had placed it there.  The sign read, "Have a prayer request?  We believe people matter to God, so we would love to pray for you.  Requests are confidential and can be anonymous.  It's that simple."  Anyone could write out a prayer request and leave it there in a little box.  Then someone from the church would come by, pick it up, and the church would begin praying for that person.

That's a neat idea.  And what a great ministry.  Good job, Alice Drive Baptist Church!  I tip my hat to you.

Prayer matters, you know?!  It's a huge deal.  And it really does make a difference.

Think about it...

When we pray for others, we join God in caring about them.

When we pray for others, we take our focus off of ourselves.

When we pray for others, we are asking God, who can do anything, to intervene and bring about a helpful resolution.

When we pray for others, we are exercising our faith and trusting in He who is far greater than ourselves.

When we pray for others, amazing things can happen.

So, yes, prayer matters.  It's mighty important.  And it can lead to tremendous blessings for everyone involved.

May all of us churches and individuals humble our hearts and pray!  Let's pray for others and ourselves.  And when we do, let's expect that God will open up the windows of Heaven and pour down more of His goodness on us all.

"Pray one for another" - James 5:16