Praying For Others More and More

How often do you pray? Is it a struggle for you like it is for me? Christians know they are supposed to pray, but we know we don't do it often enough. I would guess that no one will come to the end of their life and say "I wish I had spent less time praying." For most of us, it will be the opposite. More time praying. And much of that time should be spent praying for others (not ourselves). 

The book of James is a letter written to Jewish believers who have been persecuted, resulting in them being scattered throughout the Roman Empire. James writes to them to help them understand their faith and how it should be worked out in daily living. As he closes the letter, he turns to the suffering that many of them have experienced. A large part of the answer to their suffering is their need for dependence on God in prayer, and in particular, to be praying for each other during such difficult times.

In verses 13-15, James begins to ask some questions about their personal experiences of suffering (the same word used in verse 10 concerning the prophets) and weakness, which is a more accurate translation of the word sick in verse 13.The answer to such problems is prayer because God hears and answers the prayers of His people.

Though there is much more that can be said about the verses before, our primary focus in verse 16, we will give attention to our responsibility or praying for one another and what that looks like in the Christian life.

This idea of praying for one another assumes that certain things are happening in the lives of Christians. For example, if we want others to pray for us, we must be willing to share our needs with them. People need to know what is happening in your life if you expect them to pray for you. Along with that, we must be involved in other people’s lives in order to know their needs so that we can be specific in our prayer. Also, it is helpful and encouraging for others to know that we are praying for them. And they will know about your prayer for them when you ask them questions and stay in contact. The personal touch through phone calls and visits are an encouragement to people who are having such struggles.

Let’s now ask and answer some important questions that will challenge us to fulfill our fellowship responsibilities as it relates to praying for one another.

First, when should we be praying for one another? Should this happen when we are together with one another, or when we are apart from one another? Answer: Both! The command is in the plural, so there is a definite expectation that we are to pray for one another when we are together. But we also know that Paul prayed for people in the churches that he planted while he was away from them. So certainly we should be praying for one another when we are apart.

This command is also in the present tense, so it is a continual praying, not just a once–in-a-while event. You will notice that Paul was constantly in prayer for the people in the churches he had planted (1 Thessalonians 3:9-10; Philippians 1:3-4), even churches that he had not planted (Colossians 1:9-12). So pray constantly for one another, both when you are with one another and when you are away from one another. Have a continual ministry in the life of your spiritual family through the privilege of prayer.

Second, why should we pray for others? We can find several reasons here and throughout scripture about why we should pray.

1.      In this particular verse, we find that we should pray for one another because prayer is effective. It works! Prayer has some energy to it. This is made clear by the example given of Elijah, found in 1 Kings 17-18.

2.      We are praying “for” one another, on behalf of one another, bringing their needs before the throne of God. That little preposition “for” is the same word used frequently in scripture when it says that Christ died “for” our sins. He died as our substitute. He died on our behalf.  We pray on behalf of those Christians who are struggling in their life. We pray to protect them, to surround them with prayer to our loving Father who is able.

3.      Also, our act of praying for one another shows that we care, just as our heavenly Father cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), a responsibility we accept when we join with others in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:25). If we really do care (and we usually say that we do!), then we will pray for the needs of other Christians.

Third, what should we be praying? The context of this passage suggests that the praying would be about spiritual weakness. It might be discouragement, depression, apathy, or some other attitude that keeps us from loving God with all our heart, soul, mind or strength. And it certainly could come about as a result of some physical suffering. It may or may not be connected to sin in the life of the one for whom we are praying. When the Lord Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He gave them six areas of prayer. Let’s see how they apply to our need for praying on behalf of one another.

1.      Hallowed be Thy Name: Praying for God to be honored. For the person who is struggling, pray they would bring glory to God through this time of suffering.

2.      Thy kingdom come: Praying for Jesus to come again. For the person struggling, pray that they would find hope in the coming glory (Romans 8:18).

3.      Thy will be done: Pray that there would be obedience to the Word of God. For the struggling Christian, pray that they would submit to God’s sovereign will and look for His hand in their time of suffering. See Colossians 1:9-12.

4.      Give us this day our daily bread: praying for physical needs (finances, jobs, illness, etc.). For the person who is struggling, pray that their physical needs would be met and that they would submit to God’s will and trust in His goodness, love, and mercy.

5.      Forgiveness of sins: Praying for spiritual renewal and repentance through confession of sin. For struggling believers, pray that they would use this time of suffering for self-examination.

6.      Deliverance from evil: Pray that Satan will not have control in the struggle. Satan has a team, an army, at his disposal. When we pray for one another, so do we!

Did you notice that all of these prayer requests are in the plural, beginning with “Our” Father. Its says give “us”, forgive “our”, deliver “us”. There is no “I” or “me” or “mine” in this prayer. We need to be praying for our spiritual family.

A great example of praying for one another comes in the person of Epaphras, as Paul describes in Colossians 4:12,13. Some of the very things we have discussed have been practiced by him. First, he is one of them. Second, he is praying “always” for them. Third, he is praying on their behalf (“for you”). Fourth, he is laboring (literally, agonizing) in his prayer for them. Fifth, he is in pain, his concern for them is so great (verse 13). Is this how you picture your prayer life as you consider the responsibility to be praying for one another?

After Paul describes the armor of God (another plural context, suggesting it is something we do together), he concludes with an exhortation to be praying for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18-19). We are in a battle with Satan and all the power he can bring against us. Prayer is needed! Let's get it going, and remind ourselves that we need one another in many ways, not the least of which is praying for one another.