Pray for someone out loud, even if it is awkward.
Just because I am a pastor, it doesn’t mean that I do not feel strange sometimes when I pray for people out loud. There is something incredibly personal and vulnerable about praying for someone out loud when they can hear you.
For me, thinking about this brings to mind some powerful moments in my life. I can remember my youth pastor praying over me before going to college. I remember praying out loud for my wife in a rare, quiet moment during our wedding ceremony. I remember having church leadership pray over me out loud on multiple occasions. Once during my ordination, and many times since as I have served in the church.
I am not going to lie, being the primary focus of a prayer during a Sunday morning service is a little bit nerve-racking, but ultimately a blessed experience. However, the personal prayer for a friend, spoken out loud is probably my favorite way to pray.
There is a unifying power to prayer that is much overlooked. It forces us to empathize with a friend in both their wins and their losses. It also solidifies you as a person who is willing to walk through hardship with a brother or sister in Christ. When my life goes off the rails, I call people who can help and people who can pray.
While you consider who you may pray for today, also go out of your way to find out more about your local church’s prayer ministry. Is there any way for you to get involved? Our church has a Wednesday evening meeting, but there are also people who faithfully pray for those on our prayer list who are not able to attend our weekly meetings.
My encouragement to you is to get involved at some level. If you are not able to attend a meeting, or if there is no regularly scheduled time and space for prayer, look for ways to befriend the prayer warriors in your church. Not only are they some of the most loyal people you will ever meet, but you will also learn a lot about prayer through friendship with them.
Jason Hundley 