“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 

How are you? 

It’s a question we hear almost every day of our lives. We usually say, “Oh, I’m fine,” or “Everything’s good.” In this exchange, there is seldom much authenticity. The asker doesn’t honestly want to know how someone is doing or they just want to be polite. Deep down, the receiver doesn’t want to answer honestly, which requires too much vulnerability and time. Any deviation from these blanket responses would tend to break everyday social graces.

But there are people everywhere who are struggling. The Bible tells us we are to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), but how can we move past the superficial and genuinely love others? 

Let me share something we began doing in the last few years while I pastored in Atlanta. We introduced “Care Through Prayer.” Instead of asking someone, “How are you?” we shifted our conversations to “Is there anything in your life that needs prayer?” You might pose this question to a server at your favorite restaurant, a neighbor you pass while walking the dog, or someone who shares your schedule at the gym. Or with a close friend over breakfast. The opportunities are endless.

This slight shift has many benefits, but I want to highlight two. 

First, can you care for others? When you listen and pray for someone, your heart grows for that person. You hear what is truly important to the person. And what better way to care for someone than giving their burdens to the Lord? As the asker, you can engage with someone authentically. The receiver is allowed to be vulnerable. Sometimes, they decline, and that is perfectly fine. But often, we find people willing to share a need or request.

A second benefit is that a discussion on prayer often serves as a great bridge to a gospel conversation. It might include sharing your testimony or asking about someone’s faith background. Praying for someone might be an avenue to introduce faith to a neighbor or co-worker you have known for years. 

Ephesians 6:18 says, “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints.” Whether you pray for a believer or someone far from God, what an opportunity to honestly care for someone. 

Give it a try. Maybe “Is there anything in your life that needs prayer?” could become the new “How are you?” 

You might be surprised at the responses you will hear!

Taken from a sermon by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

DIG DEEPER
Read “Why Spend Time in Prayer?” also by Bryant Wright