Daily devotion: Don’t put off what you can do immediately!
“I Will Pray for You”
Have you ever told someone, “I will be sure to pray for you”?
Years ago, a good pastor friend taught me a lesson I’ve never forgotten. He said, “Rather than saying you’ll pray later, stop and pray right then and there—no matter where you are. Just go ahead and pray!” That way, it’s not only done, but you’ve also stayed true to your word.
As believers, we often close a conversation with someone who’s struggling by saying, “I’ll pray for you.” But how many times is that the last we think of it? We must be faithful to our word—and even more so, to the call of love that such a statement implies.
Jesus taught us the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” So when someone asks for prayer—or when we offer it—let’s respond the way we would hope others would for us: sincerely, earnestly, and without delay.
And here’s the beautiful truth—praying is not just a blessing for the person we’re lifting up; it’s a blessing for us as well. It softens our hearts, deepens our dependence on the Lord, and reminds us that we are part of the body of Christ.
The prophet Samuel once said something profound:
“Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” —1 Samuel 12:23
Let that be our heart, too. May we be people who don’t just speak of prayer—but who actually pray.