If we’re being honest with ourselves, how many times have we said we’d pray for someone and then forgotten to? Or how often have we been so wrapped up with our own lives and our own problems that we don’t even notice when someone needs prayer? Praying for others can be a challenge, we don’t know what to say or what to ask for. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he began by asking God to give Timothy three things: grace, mercy and peace. And when we’re praying for others, we can pray for those three things too. Firstly, let’s pray for grace. In the Bible, the word grace implies two things: God’s favour when we don’t deserve it and His help to face whatever we’re going through. The Bible says: ‘God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong…support you and keep you from falling’ (1 Peter 5:10 NCV). Secondly, pray for God’s mercy. We all do things wrong, but God doesn’t judge us as we deserve but shows us kindness instead. ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness’ (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV). Thirdly: peace. ‘The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds’ (Philippians 4:7 NIV). The peace God gives can sustain us through all our circumstances. And it’s different from the peace the world offers. Other things may seem to offer temporary relief but it’s God’s peace that we need. Think of someone today who needs prayer at the moment and spend time asking God to give them grace, mercy and peace.
