Praying for People

GCD Weekly Newsletter December 12th 2022

In the book of Esther, after Mordecai implores her to go to the King and ask for favour on behalf of the Jews, Esther replies saying:

“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, Esther 4:16.

This is a good example of what we mean when we “pray for someone,” not necessarily with fasting included, but that a request is given to a person, a group, or a “chain” and then intercession begins. In her latest article though, Lara d’Entremont speaks about a different way in which we often pray for others, but which I don’t think it always recognised. Lara says, “Mary, the mother of Jesus, received the greatest answer not just to her prayers, but the prayers of her entire people: The Messiah was finally coming.”

From the very beginning, since Eve was first given the promise of a coming son who would crush the serpent’s head, God’s people had prayed for Mary, though none of them knew her name. We could say the same of Esther too, it would be foolish to assume that prayers on her behalf were the first ones which landed on God’s ears at this time in history, but rather, it’s amazing to think how God heard, and answered the prayers of forgotten and downtrodden Jews during the time to prepare, make way for, and protect Esther during that time.

I don’t know what your prayer life looks like right now, I know nothing of the frequency nor the struggles, but my guess is that you sometimes prayer for change in your Church, your relationships, your country or your town—or maybe something more abstract like a school district or something like that. Whatever you are praying for in those moments, whether you know it or not, you are likely praying for a person. Maybe you know them, maybe you don’t, maybe they’re antagonistic towards you right now, or an unseen ally. Perhaps you’re even praying for yourself and you don’t even know it yet!

Whatever you’re praying for, why not think about who you’re praying for? Not trying to figure out who they are, but remember that if you’re praying for something to budge—legislation, mortgages, family struggles—that picturing a person, a face, behind that struggle may help you to grow in understanding and lessen your bitterness towards them. Conversely, if you might be praying for someone to come into a situation and be used by God to make change, why not think about, and pray about, how God might equip, prepare, and encourage them ahead of time for that particular task?

Grace and Peace,

Adsum Try Ravenhill is married to Anna and together they are passionate about seeing young men and women discipled within the context of the local church. You can find Adsum through his writing at The Raven’s Writing Desk and alongside Anna as the co-host of the Consider the Ravens Podcast, you can also find Adsum’s articles for GCD here.

Articles of the Week

Writers’ Coaching Corner (December 2022): Answers Questions
Benjamin Vrbicek

This is the third instalment of season two of the Writers’ Coaching Corner in which we look at different aspects of what makes for good writing. Benjamin looks this month at answering questions with our writing, and why questions are important.

Social Anxiety and The God Who Held Mary
Lara D’entremont

God must have rows of my bottled tears by now—tears that I shed over my anxiety where I begged him to take it all away. Yet the anxiety remains. I don’t understand why, and in those moments of looking at my life and wondering why God’s hand has not lifted the anxiety from me, doubt has snaked around my heart.

GCD Writer’s Guild

You may have heard in previous weekly newsletters about our “Writer’s Guild” an online community of Christian writers who get together online, discuss articles, the craft, as well as share war stories and writing opportunities.

We have a whole range of people from new and aspiring writers, to published authors. If you’re a writer looking to purchase yourself a gift this year, why not check out the writers guild this year?

Grace and Peace,

Adsum Try Ravenhill