Listen to Nancy’s answer recorded live with Moody radio’s program Morning’s with Kelli and Steve.
Why pray for others when we know that God is all knowing and all powerful and can do all things!
In spite of all that, Jesus commands us to pray for others.
1 Timothy 2:1 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,”
Jesus told us to pray not to glorify self but rather to glorify God.
John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it”. When we ask in Jesus’ name means that we want our prayer to be granted ONLY if it is what God desires. By this kind of prayer, we get to know God better. Prayer is not about getting everything we want or keeping others safe, healthy, and problem-free at all times. The difference of prayer and effective prayer is that effective prayer for others is based on a knowledge of His will.
Effective prayer will also bring us closer to others, as we learn more about those in need. There is something beautiful about when Christians pray together: we get closer to God and closer to one another!
Jesus’ example of how to pray for others came as he was praying for His disciples, is how we should pray as well.
John 17:9-11, 20-23 “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one… “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us ,so that the world may believe that you have sent me.The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
We are also asked to pray for government leaders, fellow Christians, for families, business relationships, health…whatever God puts on our hearts. When we ask with a pure heart, we should be earnestly grateful with an answer of yes, no or wait…because it will be the will of God and He will be glorified!