Pray for Others

Sarah, Abraham's wife, was a beautiful woman. So much so, that as the couple traveled through foreign lands, the rulers of those lands often lusted after Sarah. Fearing the rulers would kill him so they could take his fetching bride, Abraham used subterfuge to fend off potential threats to his life. He made it known that Sarah was his sister and carefully avoided the fact that she was also his wife. She was, in fact, his half-sister, being the daughter of his father but not of his mother, so, saying she was his sister was a true statement.

The first time Abraham used this convenient trick was in the land of Gerar, where Abimelech was king. Believing Abraham was an honest man, and taking him at his word that Sarah was only his sister, the king brought Sarah into his house with the intention of making her his wife. Before Abimelech could consummate the marriage, however, this innocent and righteous man was visited by the Lord in a dream. In the dream, the Lord told him that Sarah was in fact Abraham's wife, and the king would be committing adultery if he married her. Then the Lord made this statement to Abimelech:

Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
-- Genesis 20:7

The king immediately returned Sarah to Abraham, scolded him for putting the king and his household in moral danger, and made things right with Abraham. And accordingly, Abraham did in fact pray for Abimelech and his family. The record reports:

So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
-- Genesis 20:17

As the Bible attests, since the beginning, praying for others has been a common practice.

When we attempt to intercede with God on the behalf of others, we are acting in a small way like Christ, who is our faithful Intercessor with the Father. We add our faith to the faith of others, or in some cases we put our faith forward when others lack faith, to invoke the power of God for those who need His help.

Faith is a force multiplier. God reacts and responds to faith.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
-- James 1:5-6

Though we are commanded to pray for others, it is a mystery to me how praying for others works. Heavenly Father already knows those for whom we pray. He loves them, knows what they need, and is anxious to bless them with powerful blessings. How my petitions on their behalf could trigger God to act is beyond my comprehension. Nevertheless, it works.

I do not have to understand how electricity works before I flip the switch on the wall to turn on the lights. I am satisfied for now to trust that prayer works, even though I cannot explain the principles of prayer in scientific terms.

What I believe is that praying for others is important for me and beneficial for others, and great good comes of it. Because God guides and inspires my prayers, perhaps He is revealing to me His will for the person for whom I pray. Maybe He is helping me recognize His hand and power in the lives of others when I see my prayers answered. Perhaps prayer is a way of teaching me love, compassion, and charity for others. And maybe my prayers should be more about what I can do to help God bless others than about getting Him to do all the work.

Whatever the process and whatever the outcome, I will continue to pray for others with faith and hope in the efficacy of the effort.