Do you ever have a moment of relief or peace and then realize, “Somebody is praying for me”? They are. . . Fiona explains.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:11-12)
I’ve been feeling like it’s been hard going lately and the daily struggles seem that bit harder.
Everything seems worse as I’m not sleeping that well, and that leads to tiredness, inability to concentrate, irritability, and all the rest that I’m sure many of you understand all too well.
Yesterday I seemed overwhelmed with depressing thoughts and particularly the fact that so much of the time I feel like I’m doing this journey on my own.
Sure, I know God is with me every minute of it and that makes a huge difference. But in terms of people who support and walk alongside me–there aren’t many and I often feel like this burden is too heavy to carry alone.
Last night I slept a couple of hours, then was pretty much wakeful the rest of the night. As I dozed intermittently or just tried not to be “awake,” I was aware that my mind was playing over and over again, the words “somebody’s praying for me.”
I bought a new CD recently and that’s the title of a song on it that I’ve heard a few times no, “Somebody’s Praying For Me” with Don Moen & Claire Cloninger.*
Not just were they the words of that song, but I think God had my mind replaying them now, so I would remember that even when I feel so alone. There are people praying for me.
I know that those prayers make a difference and I feel so privileged to have people–some of whom I’ve never met in person–lifting my name up before the Lord. It was a reminder to me that I’m so blessed by those people who are praying for me.
I think it’s also a challenge for me to think of those in my life that I should be holding up in prayer before the Lord too. Whether they are facing challenges, or just needing encouragement to continue on–God calls us to pray for eachother.
Prayer: Father, Thank You for alerting me that I have people praying for me. Help me to be aware of those I need to be praying for today. Thank You that You always hear our prayers. Amen.
* Album “Uncharted Territory” – Don Moen, “Somebody’s Praying For Me” – Don Moen & Claire Cloninger
About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life, and the lessons He is teaching her, as she lives with chronic back pain. She enjoys finding time for reading, writing, and photography, and to travel when she is able. You can contact her in the Sunroom.
Do you remember a time when you were really aware of others praying for you and the difference that made in a particular situation, or time? Did you know at the time, or only later?
When you are having those dark moments, when nothing seems to be going right in your life, remember, “somebody is praying for me.” You may never know if it is a parent, a child, or even someone here at Rest Ministries who you have never “met” but who is praying for you this very moment. This is the song Fiona shares above. We encourage you to listen.
How apt this was today. Having been suffering from heart failure of the last year and a half I have recently been disgnosed with a leaking heart valve which leaves me very short of breath and energy. Today both my very supportive wife were feeling very overwhelmed by the situation but then three different people from different parts of the country who we had not spoken to for a long time rang to see how we were and feeling they needed to pray for us over the phone. God is so good and you are so right we need to be open to do the same for others who God puts on our hearts.
Bless you for your testimony
Dear Fiona,
Thank you for your devotional today! It was so appropriate for me too! I see from you bio that you suffer with chronic back pain, and i do too. It is so debilitating, I don’t know if someone who hasn’t suffered from it can really appreciate that. Anyway, I’ve had a bad bout this past week that has left me wondering what in the world I am going to do if I can’t function like I need to, and my first thing I thought of was, “I need to call my prayer warriors!” I have a list (short, but strong) of people I can call in a crisis or just a need for prayer. It is such a blessing just to know someone is praying for you when you need it.
It is also a blessing to pray for others. That is something God showed me during one of my “back crises” as I call them. Praying for others not only blesses them, but blesses you by taking your eyes and your mind off of yourself for even just a short while. I will be praying for you tonight to get the much needed sleep and rest you need.
God bless,
Julie
Stuart & Julie,
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
How blessed we are to have others praying for us and I’m encouraged to read both your comments about others praying for you when you need it most.
I want to make sure I’m not just on the receiving end of that – but blessing others lives as well.
Praying for both of you with your physical situations.
Fiona
Dear Fiona,
Thanks for your devotiona – very encouraging. I’ve wanted to contact you before because I think you are the only Australian to write devotionals. I live in Perth and would like to be friends in the sunroom, but not sure how to do it! I joined the sunroom this morning.
Jenny
I really feel that if you join me in praying for a breakthrough in the work I do in caring for the children in distress. I need a children’s home for them. I need people to help. Join me to become caregivers for Bukedea Uganda needy children.
Soooooo true! Thanks Fiona for your wonderful & encouraging devotion.
I don’t know how I’d cope without people praying for me & me praying for others!! I have a saying “while I can breathe, I can pray” & I LOVE to pray for others, as it’s something I can “do” for the Lord & His children. I hate to think how I’d be without the prayer from faithful friends too. The power of friends praying can’t be underestimated! I praise God for His faithful answers to His prayerful warriors & intercessors.
Recently I had my MIL’s funeral. I’m a chair & bedridden shut in so this was HUGE for my body!! HEAPS of people were praying for our family & I was amazed to feel weirdly “normal” until the last 10 mins of the funeral. I managed standing for the hymns & could “enjoy” the funeral without being laid out on the floor!! I soooooo didn’t want to distract my dear hubby, who had the final eulogy for the service. My body crashed out after, but I didn’t care. He sustained me & literally held me up!!
Thanks Fiona!! Hugs, prayers & blessings. Lotsoluv Kerryn
PS. Welcome to you Jenny Miles…..I’m a fellow Aussie too! I live in Adelaide. Between you, Fiona & myself we cover the length of Oz!! I’ll look out for you.
This is so true. There have been times when for some reason I feel better… or I feel more encouraged and hopeful when in pain… only to find out later that my friend had been led by the Lord to pray for me. Thanks for sharing this reminder as it reminds ME to pray for others who I know are also struggling.
(another) Fiona
Thanks Fiona, Kerryn and Jenny for your comments. It’s great to hear stories of how others prayers have made a difference in our lives.
Jenny, I’ve sent you a message in the Sunroom – hopefully you can find that.
Fiona
Teehee, several times while I was working in Ethiopia I retrospectively found that I was the daily prayer point within my mission on days that had been particularly tough (worse health, less energy, or extra stresses). Humans randomly allocated those prayer points to days, but I reckon Someone was doing some planning in advance – even though I facetiously began dreading the days I was scheduled to be prayed for, wondering what extra hurdles they were going to bring my way!
G’day Fiona, Kerryn & Jenny from another Aussie – further east than all of you, in Gippsland.