Monday; May 22

Have you ever been asked to pray for a solid Christian who is facing what appears to be a terminal illness? If so, what do you pray for? When I was younger, the most natural prayer in this situation was for healing, but the older I get the more internal conflict I feel in automatically praying for healing and deliverance. In the back of my mind I hear the Apostle Paul saying, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21). This may sound a bit odd, but is praying for their healing and more time on earth really doing them a favor? Please don’t think I am heartless, my intent is quite the opposite … I want them to be truly happy!
So, back to the original question – what to pray for? I think there are two things we can pray for in these circumstances. First, we can and should pray for God’s will to be done. Jesus taught this lesson when He prayed for God’s wisdom when He faced the cross (see Matthew 26:42). Yet, another prayer might be for God to hear the prayers of those closer to the situation. There are times when we are asked to pray for things that may be somewhat emotionally removed from us, but are intensely personal for those asking for prayers. When this happens, maybe the best thing to pray for is for God to grant the requests of those most keenly impacted.
No matter what we pray for, let’s be willing to pray with and for each other. When we do, no matter the outcome, we’ll all be in it together.
Think About It!

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