“When a believing person prays, great things happen.” James 5:16 NCV
“Prayer and faith each inspire and encourage the other.”
My thoughts today are about “a friend’s prayers.”
A friend at different times can be many things: a companion, confidant, counselor, corrector, encourager, helper, partner, defender, protector, forgiver, and restorer . . and often does a great many other things on behalf of friendship. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity – (to help in time of need).” Proverbs 17:17 NIV/NLT.
Among all that you might do as a friend, the best thing you can ever do for a friend is to be there for them and to bring them in prayer to Jesus. I know how my life, family, and ministry have been bettered by the friendship of others. I wonder how my life has also been shaped because of the prayers of friends on my behalf, though unknown to me at the time. I may never have known of their prayer, but God heard them and I am better because of their prayers. I can only hope that my friendship has brought others a little closer to Jesus, as theirs has certainly done for me.
Do you remember the story in the Bible of a man helpless and sick, until four of his friends decided to do for him what he could not do for himself? They brought their friend to Jesus. “Seeing their faith,” Jesus forgave his sins and healed his sickness. Mark 2:1-12 NIV. Their faith for their friend prompted Jesus’ power on his behalf. They didn’t know how or when as they brought him, and probably neither will you, but you can know this, “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” James 5:16 NCV. Prayer is your inviting God to do something more than you could have hoped. See Ephesians 3:20 NIV.
Prayer and faith go together. You do not bother to pray for something you do not believe possible. And likewise, even if you say you do believe, you really do not believe something for which you will not bother to pray. Prayer and faith both inspire and encourage the other. The more you pray, the more your faith grows; the greater your faith grows, the more your prayers are emboldened.
Sometimes the best way that you bring a friend to Jesus is by your prayers for them. When you pray, let your appeal to God never be on the basis of their need, however real and urgent, nor on their goodness or deservedness, however true. The only real basis for faith-filled prayer is your conviction about God’s own nature and love.
Be grateful for every friend who prayed for you and nudged you a little more toward Jesus. See Proverbs 27:17 NLT. Be thankful for everyone who trusts you to be that kind of friend to them. “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” 1 Samuel 12:23-24 NIV.
My prayer for you is that you will always have that kind of friend, and be that to others.