Recently I’ve been thinking about the importance of praying for others. Sometimes we tell others we will pray for them but then struggle to follow through and actually pray for them. Thankfully, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf in groans too deep for words, when we fall short in our prayers. Even so, this summer when things are a little slower and less hectic, I want to encourage us to pause and spend intentional time praying for others.
Our dear friend Tom Cook took prayer seriously. Even in his later years, he made a special effort to pray for each person on our Union prayer list every week. He would divide up the names on the prayer list and pray for several people each day until he had prayed through the entire list by the end of the week. Such a remarkable ministry of prayer was a gift to those in need and a gift that God used to grow Tom’s relationship with Christ. I am so thankful for the legacy of faithful prayer that Tom offered, and I know we miss him in our life together. One of the best ways we can honor his legacy is to take praying for others as seriously as he did.
Like many churches, Union has a full church prayer list. Yet, I want to encourage us to remember that our prayer list is far more than a list of names. It’s a list full of actual people, with both joys and concerns. It’s a list full of people who have challenges and hardships in life. It’s a list full of people in need of God’s love, grace, and peace each day. It’s a list we should take seriously, because it's a list full of people who God loves.
At the end of today’s midweek, we have printed our entire prayer list to encourage us all to spend some time praying for these dear ones. Maybe try Tom’s strategy of dividing up the names and praying for several folks each day until you’ve prayed through the whole list!
As you pray this week, please also take a moment to share any recent updates you have about friends or family members on our list with us by emailing office@unionchristianchurch.net. This helps us know how to pray for each person more specifically. Sometimes, we may not know all the details as we pray, but we can trust that God does and hears our humble prayers for those in need. I’ve always found comfort in Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"
Thank you for being a praying church! It means so much to Union and to those we seek to uphold in prayer together!