“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms […] And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” Ephesians 6: 11-12, 18, NIV

Have you ever felt prompted to pray for a friend, coworker, student, or maybe even a stranger passing by or a difficult person in your life without really knowing why? Has anyone ever reached out to you and said that they were praying for you at just the right time? This doesn’t happen by accident. God speaks to the hearts of His people so that we might pray for and support one another.

Recently, I got a voice message from a friend who felt led to pray for me that morning. Neither of us knew at the time that just 30 minutes later, I was really going to need that extra prayer to lean on in the midst of an unexpected battle. It was like he’d handed me an extra shield for the arrows that were to come. Later that same day, I had a playdate scheduled with a different friend. I was tempted to cancel it and nurse my wounds in private, but kept the date instead and was uplifted and blessed by her friendship and encouragement. Our open conversation allowed us to share our struggles and then we were able to pray for one another.

This is how the body of Christ works: “…there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor. 12:25-27).

A healthy body has each of its parts working together for the common good. In the body of Christ, the absolute most powerful way to do this is to pray for each other!

The spiritual warfare happening in the unseen is something that our conscious minds may not be aware of, but the Holy Spirit living within us knows exactly where and when each battle is being fought. Just like an army platoon is trained to never leave a brother behind, we too, as brothers and sisters in Christ, lay down our lives for each other in prayer, that the whole body may be healthy.

It is so important to be obedient in these moments: when God puts someone on your heart, stop and pray for them right away. You have no idea how crucial your prayer might be in that moment for that person. Every time I’ve done this and then sent a message to that friend, they always respond with, “That was exactly what I needed right now!” That’s not my timing or intuition: it’s all God. He knows. Being a vessel of blessing is a great honor He has allowed us to share.

We must also keep in mind that when shots are fired, it’s not the gun that’s to blame; it’s who has their finger on the trigger. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that just as people can be used by God for His purposes, people can also be used by the enemy for his purposes, even unwittingly. The person hurting you at that moment is just an instrument; the devil is the one with his finger on the trigger. Our response should be kindness, gentleness, and a spirit that seeks peace: the Spirit of God. We should strive to emulate the attitude of Christ as He was nailed to the cross, praying, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Pray for that difficult person in your life today: he or she may be living a life of bondage to the enemy and be in desperate need of the freedom of Christ, just like you and I.

Thank you, Lord, for the power of prayer. Thank you for this spiritual weapon that no one can confiscate and that nothing can stand against. Please help us to hear Your voice clearly when You ask us to pray for others. Grant us Your grace and peace even in praying for those who hurt or persecute us. Give us today the gentleness of Your Holy Spirit living within us and help us to truly live as ambassadors of Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Copyright Rhapsody Jordan-Parisi.

Rhapsody is a member and high school English teacher from North Carolina. She is passionate about helping overwhelmed teachers reclaim their time and peace of mind through support, encouragement, and intentional strategies. You can connect with her at tightropeteaching.com.