Praying for others

https://odb.org/2026/01/05/care-prayer

1 Samuel 12:19–24 (NIV): 19 The people all said to Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”
20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

A woman was unusually nervous as she sat in the dentist’s chair. Family burdens troubled her greatly, and it was noticeable. Her dentist sensed her anxiety and asked her about it. Her story led him to ask, “Can I pray for you?” When the dental hygienist came into the room, she also prayed for the woman. Two prayers and one completed dentist’s visit later, the woman left the office knowing that she’d truly been cared for. Praying for others is one of the best ways for us to show that we care because it calls on the greatest resource we know—our heavenly Father—to be actively involved in the lives of others. (Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread 5th January 2026)

One of the easier things we could do in reaching out is to offer to pray for others. It takes less time compared to sharing our testimony and I believe is perceived as being less controversial. In fact praying for someone may be considered as neutral or even caring as we are calling upon the supernatural in the spiritual realm to break into the affairs of the natural world. Everyone loves a positive outcome. So if we pray and God answers, it’s win-win. Also praying for others is one of the best ways for us to show our empathy and compassion, our genuine care and love because it calls on the greatest resource we know—our heavenly Father—to intervene in the lives of others.

Our heavenly Father is the creator of the universe and everything in it and we have access to Him through prayer. Of course we can never be sure He will answer our prayers or when He will do so. That’s up to His will and His timing. Ultimately, God is sovereign. But at least we made the effort to make the connection. It is up to the Holy Spirit to do the rest. We trust in God’s wisdom and timing.

Blessed 2026! In a blink of an eye, 2025 is now history. But the things we went through – our work challenges, our health issues, the changes in our lives – will remain memories etched in our minds. I pray that all our tears and heartbreaks will serve as a lesson and reminder for us not to repeat the same mistakes in 2026 and beyond. There may be significant changes for some of us in 2026. We may need to adapt. I pray that we will all come out victorious as we make lifestyle changes to adapt to those changes. In the end, we will need to persevere through for the sake of our family and loved ones, for the sake of God’s plans and purposes for our lives. I pray that the Lord will grant us the strength, resilience and wisdom to overcome the challenges of 2026! Have a good year ahead, everyone!