Intercessory prayer begins when we carry someone else’s needs into the quiet with us. Sometimes we know exactly what to ask; sometimes all we can offer is a name, a hope, or a simple plea for help. I find comfort in believing that even these small prayers matter.
Here, I hope to reflect on the practice of praying for others—with honesty, patience, and trust. Whoever you are holding in your heart today, you are welcome to pause, read, and remember that you do not have to carry every concern alone.
This series is the result of a thought and challenge placed in my heart through a number of circumstances and over many years. In the very first part of Mark 2, the Bible tells a very short story about a group of four people who carry a disabled man to Jesus. The Bible indicates the man is unable to walk at all. As the story goes, these four people are seeking Jesus’ help for their friend. The Bible says they carry him on a stretcher, but that they cannot reach Jesus. The narrative explains the house is so full of people that there is no way to get inside. These four, undaunted, carry their load up the side of the house onto the roof. They break up the roof (most likely mud, plaster, and straw) and drop their friend down through the hole in roof, right into the lap of Jesus. This must have been quite a sight and quite a mess. Mark 2 indicates Jesus was moved by “their faith”, the faith of these four who carried the stretcher. This story comes to my mind almost daily. This series is based on a simple thought emphasizing the power of intercessory prayer…based on the question: Who is on your stretcher? Who are you taking to Jesus?
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