We can keep praying after.

God doesn’t say “cease praying” after the test results suggest the worst or the conversation ends terribly or the morning rush causes us to forget what we even read in the Bible that morning.

In our limited sense of time, praying after things seem “finished” can feel futile.

We sometimes act like prayer has a deadline before it’s “too late.”

Because, really….why pray about something that has already happened?

Can the Lord change even that which is in retrospect? Is He sovereign over history when it’s already been written? Scripture doesn’t suggest God retroactively answers prayers or puts us all in a supernatural time machine to perform miracles past (though God did turn back time once!)

Unlike our concept of “changers” in sci-fi movies that erase and replant memories to “change history, “the Lord is in the business of changing hearts. And while that may not change what has already happened, it does change our perspective. That makes all the difference.

Just because something is over to us doesn’t mean God’s done working it into good.

After you complete that nerve-wracking conversation, pray. Turn to the Lord. He can work in your heart to use that conversation for good. He does, after all, work all things together for the good of those who love Him according to His will and great purposes (Romans 8:28.)

He can also change the heart of the one you spoke to. Or the loved one who faced the tragedy. And even the course of that decision you made that you’re not so sure about.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO TURN TO THE LORD.

That should affect how we live in this world and how we relate to others. Forgiveness is all the more possible when we live according to the truth:

Grace has no expiration date.
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So pray after it all goes crazy, it all goes well, and you have no idea how any of it could go anywhere.

He remains faithful and is reigning over it all- past, present, and future.

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” –1 Chronicles 29:11

{A version of this post originally appeared on First and Second blog}

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If you were to ask me,

“What is the number one thing I can do for you today?”

Honestly, I would tell you, pray for me.

Think about it. What greater, more powerful gift can you possibly give anyone than a selfless, heartfelt prayer?

I say selfless because…

Not so many years ago my prayers were more selfish than selfless.

I might pray for God to make an ever so slight adjustment in a family member, believing it was best for (me) them. I could see so clearly all their need-for-change places.

You know what I mean? Ahem, I bet you do.

But most of those life modifications were not for me to decide, and God knew that so He answered some of my narrow-minded prayers to show me just how wrongly directed they were.

Some lessons are hard learned.

These days I make it a habit to pray for my husband, sons, and daughter-in-laws every morning and if they don’t have a specific need, I pray Scripture over them. Praying God’s Word keeps my motives in check. My desire for my family is for them to be everything God wants them to be. Praying God’s Word keeps me from praying everything I might want them to be… at this moment.

Because I sometimes have a skewed perspective, I pray by God’s directive.

I’ve found praying for God’s will is a whole lot better than praying for mine.

This is how I do it. I insert my family member’s name right into the Scripture.

For example:

From Ephesians 1:17 – Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You will give Whitney the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that she may know You better. I pray that the eyes of Whitney’s heart may be enlightened in order that she may know the hope to which You have called her, the riches of Your inheritance in Your holy people, and the incredible great power for all of us who believe.

From Philippians 1:9-11 – And this is my prayer God, that Jamie’s love would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that she may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.

From 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 – Dear God I pray for Lil David and Aaron that You may make them worthy of Your calling and that by Your power You may bring to fruition every desire for goodness they have and every deed prompted by their faith. I pray that the name of the Lord Jesus will be glorified in them and them in You according to Your grace.

From 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – I pray Lord Jesus that You who love us and by Your grace give us eternal encouragement and hope, will encourage David’s heart and strengthen him in every good deed and word.

What better way to petition  for those closest to us than with God’s divine perspective. From His Word.

Instead of praying for my family to be more like me (God forbid!) I pray for them to be more like Jesus. And that’s far better for everyone. Amen!

If you would like more Scripture to use in your prayers try this website.

Now, this is my prayer for you today: From 2 Thessalonians 3:16 – Now I pray that the Lord of peace give you my friends, peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you. Amen.

Looking forward, pressing on and seeking God in every bump and twist in the road.

with love,

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The post How to Pray for Those we Love appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.