Prayer: Standing In The Gap

When my husband was preparing for surgery a good friend brought a prayer shawl to the hospital. With the shawl came a note that with each stitch she had prayed for my husband and his recovery. We have experienced these shawls before but have never been on the receiving end of this special ministry. There is something about receiving this handmade token of love and prayer that does have power. Since his surgery we placed the shawl on the back of our couch and with the coming colder weather I have often grabbed it and placed it around my shoulders for warmth. Each time I was reminded of the prayers that were given on our behalf.

In our church each Sunday we have a time of "Prayers of the People". This is a time for us to share our joys and concerns. It provides an opportunity for us to pray as a group for each other and those we love. I often write the names down but I have to admit that in the busyness of the week the notes can get laid aside for more seemly pressing things.

Lately I have been thinking about prayer. I have been moved to pray for many of my blog friends who have asked their readers for prayer. I have written down these names and this time the lists have made it in my car and to my desk. When I see their names on my blog roll I am reminded again of their need.

I like to think that when I pray I am "standing in the gap" for others. When they are in need I can "intercede" on their behalf and ask for their God to meet them in their need. After being on the receiving end of so many well wishes on my own blog during my husband's surgery, I realized the power that we all have to support each other even through this blog community.

For today, I have several blog friends who need prayer and have asked for it on their blogs:

JenX67: Jen asks for prayers for her brother Billy in California who has a tumor on his kidney.

Poetikat: Kat is from Canada and lost her father this week. The funeral is Wednesday.

Fordy Days and Nights: Susan has asked for prayers for her grandmother who is ill in Florida.

I have been led to respond to these requests and although there is risk in blogging about religion and politics I have to say that this act of posting boldly this need of mine to "stand in the gap" for these wonderful friends feels right today.

Abundance is...praying on behalf of others.

For another opportunity to experience prayer through blogging visit Caroline at "Zen Prayers".

For other Wordful Wednesday Participants see Angie @ Seven Clown Circus