How often has someone asked you for prayer? How often have you prayed with him or her right on the spot? Doing so is a very important way to show God’s compassion. If you have never done so, here are five steps that will guide you. But don’t worry if someone says “No.” That’s OK too.
- Pause. Know that Jesus is with both of you. Invite the person to imagine and focus on a favorite image of Jesus. Give the person the option of closing his or her eyes. You might also acknowledge the presence of Jesus with words like, “Jesus, I know you are with us now.”
- Pray specifically for the person’s request: “Help my brother or sister with . . . ” Pray also for the “core” needs that lie beneath what the person has expressed. Say things like, “God, we give you everything about this situation” or “God, we give you Joanne’s unspoken pain.” If the person has requested prayer for someone else, first pray for the person in front of you. Then pray together for the person who is not present.
- Give the Holy Spirit permission [aloud] to do whatever is needed most. It could be physical, spiritual, or emotional healing; conviction of sin; removal of obstacles; a new home, job, or attitude; or help finding ways to deal with failure, suffering, or shame. We don’t know. God knows. So, while praying, there is no need to counsel or lecture, lest we violate a vulnerable person.
- While praying, watch for the action of the Holy Spirit in the person (crying, peace, release of tension, words, images). After two or three minutes, ask the person to describe what is happening. If he or she mentions something specific, pray for a few more minutes, using their experience as a guide.
- Thank Jesus for whatever the Holy Spirit is doing, even if you cannot see anything happening. End your prayer time by inviting the person to repeat after you each line of a prayer like the Our Father, the Hail Mary, or the Glory Be.
Excerpted from Mending Broken Relationships