Remembering in prayer

2 Tim. 1: 1 - 12

Someone mentioned that one sign of 'age' is that we begin to read the obituaries and to go to more funerals than weddings or full moon celebrations. So I have probably 'arrived' :) Anyway, it is always a very deep experience to be with friends as they say their say goodbye to loved ones. At my age, the parents of many of my friends are getting on in age and some have passed on. Yesterday and today, I was at the wake and funeral service for the father of a dear friend. I actually did not know her father personally but just holding him and my friend in prayer the last few months of his life brought me a small step closer. During the eulogies I got a glimpse of who this dear husband, father and grandfather was and how much he meant to his extended family and friends.

Praying for others or as Paul says "I....constantly remember you in my prayers" is a very special way of connecting with other Christians. There is a bond of love formed that does not depend on geographical nearness or even on frequent verbal communication. I do not find it easy to pray so consistently and faithfully, especially when I do not know the person. And I must admit that it is only when I sense a call to do so that I am able to persevere in prayer. Maybe our hearts are enlarged as we are slowly led to hold more and more people in prayer. But it is really a deep experience to "hold others in our hearts before the Lord". I don't know how Paul the great apostle prayed for the many, many people he mentored. Did he pray specifics for each and every one of them, all the time? I know that for many people I hold in my heart before the Lord, I am unable to pray very specifically. Sometimes it is because I am not in frequent contact. Other times there may not be any specific 'prayer request' from them. But even in the 'nothing specific' prayer I know my heart is growing in compassion for each one.

"Remembering in prayer" is a really graced way of connecting in a spirit of love with those the Lord has placed on our hearts. I don't think I can pray for each and every person I know all the time. But I believe the way would be to listen to the people with needs that seem to 'burden' us and just hold these up before the Lord.....allowing him to 'use' the prayer for his glory in their lives.