may i pray with you?

May I Pray With You?
Susie E Caron (c) 7/24/2020
All I said was this: “May I pray with you?” My Mother began to cry. First came her tears then aging hands covered her face as she sobbed. I waited, resting my hand gently on her shoulder, not wanting to interrupt her feelings. When her crying subsided, she looked at me and quietly said, “No one ever asked me this before.”
 
I grew up in a middle-class family in a quiet neighborhood in New Jersey. Until in teens our family attended a little Methodist church only two blocks from home. We usually walked and enjoyed friendships with our neighbors and church community. Since my parents lived in that home all their lives, I felt taken aback by her comment. My mind reflected on all the wonderful Christian women we’d known as family friends and more specifically my Mother’s friends. Her words caught me by surprise, but I was not about to let this opportunity go.
 
“I will pray with you.” I replied quietly. Then, simply the way one talks with a friend. I asked the Lord to “hear my Mother’s heart and answer her prayer with peace and wisdom.” We held hands. My Mom quietly cried throughout. When we said “Amen”, she thanked me. We hugged and moved on to our activities for the day. However, I will never forget the lesson I learned that day and always treasured our special, shared, intimate moment.
 
I regularly see requests for prayer on social media. Many respond with a praying hands emojis.  Others write the word ‘praying’. Both indicate the commenter intends to pray, or they may stop and pray right away. Sometimes we see a written prayer in the comments, to which others add “Amen.” All this is good. I too am personally happy to pray for others, day and night, whenever I see a request. I wonder what more we can do?
 
What more can we do?
Perhaps, whenever possible we can ask if a person would like us to pray with them. Going to the Lord together is scriptural and precious to both the Lord and to those taking part. It only takes an opportunity and this simple question:
 
“May I pray with you?”
 
Perhaps this whole idea of praying with another seems difficult for you?
 
Here are 3 tips for praying with others.
 

1. Always ask what they want you to pray for. (Don’t assume you know anything about them or their situation. It isn’t necessary to quiz them beyond a few quick questions or beyond their comfort level.)
2. Take them with you. Take them to the Throne of Grace like you would a beloved brother or sister. You are taking them with you to the Father, the one who loves you both.  (In prayer is NOT time to teach, preach or correct them. whatever you may think the person has done or will do wrong. That perhaps and only after prayerful consideration, in a conversation. Perhaps before you pray together,  or save it for another time.)
3. Pray in Love for their heart to be heard by the Lord and answered in such a special way that this person knows with certainty it is God who answered.

 
When you have both said Amen offer a hug if appropriate, or a pat on the shoulder or shake hands and commit them in your heart to God. Don’t continue to talk about the situation unless he or she wants to. If you believe this person has needs you cannot help, whether physical, menta or emotional, gently offer to help them find someone who can.
 
Postscript
Throughout her life My Mother never revealed to me the content of her personal struggle. I knew God understood and felt assured He could handle it. Many years later my Mother said this: “You remember that thing I asked you to pray for? It got taken care of.” She seemed pleased and acknowledged God answered her prayers. We hugged again and I whispered, “Thank you My Lord and My God.”
 
From that 1st time we prayed together going forward I never took for granted that someone I knew, especially perhaps the ones I considered the ‘most spiritual’ had anyone to pray with them.
 
                              Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything
                                    they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
                               For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
                                                                     Matthew 18:19-20 

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