by Peggy Johnson
Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation. Hearken
to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I make my prayer to you In the morning,
Lord, you hear my voice; early in the morning I make my appeal and watch for
you. Psalm 5:1-3
These are some of the familiar words of the liturgy said each weekday morning
at Christ the King Church. They are the preface to our prayers for members of
our church, friends and relatives. Sometimes we personally know their names,
but most of them we do not know. We don’t know their circumstances -or
why their names are on the prayer list - but God knows their deepest needs.
We pray for EVERY name - that they will be healed in body, mind, and spirit,
refreshed, restored, forgiven, encouraged, whatever their special need. We pray
for the hungry and poor everywhere, the lonely, those who will marry, newborn
babies and parents, those who have died, those who grieve, for peace in the
world, for care givers, for students and teachers, for pastors and missionaries.
There are names which have been remembered for weeks and months. We come to
feel they are people whom we know. Once I met a man at church who told me his
name and said he was in town for his routing check-up at M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center. I recognized his name immediately. I told him we had been praying for
him by name each day for many months. He was surprised to know this and visibly
touched. There is power and comfort knowing you have been prayed for - by name.
To offer prayers for others -known and unknown - is a privilege and a blessing.
Lord, thank You for hearing our prayers. Make us always mindful of the needs
of others. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.