I hate open heights! I can’t stand balconies, glass elevators freak me out, and when I am driving across a bridge, you’ll find me hugging the dividing rail along the inside lane.
Some friends tried to help me conquer these fears by inviting our family to join them one Sunday afternoon at Inner Peaks Climbing Center. I cringed at the thought of it, but JJ and our boys really wanted to go. So I caved in and agreed to a family “outing” inside this huge rock-climbing center.
When we entered the doors, my heart stopped beating as I look up at the highest peak – 25 feet! The instructors assured me that a web of ropes, harnesses and carabiners would hold me tight. Before I could say “no thank you,” I was strapped in and signing an injury waiver. I played it safe and stayed on the lower peaks.
Towards the end of the day, our friends John and Laura challenged their eight-year-old son Steven to climb to the highest peak – promising $5 in tokens and a cone of ice cream at arcade next door if he would touch the bar at the top.
Steven was afraid of heights, too, but he loved a dare. The promise of reward, mixed with the challenge and faith of his father evoked courage in Steven.
I watched with admiration as that little guy started the climb with confidence. He made it to 15 feet, then 20. But as he inched past the next face of the wall, he saw just how far he had to go before reaching the bar at the top. In fear, he looked down with tears and said he couldn’t do it. Then he cried out for his daddy’s help.
By this time, John was holding their very tired 3 yr old, and Laura was feeding their very hungry baby girl. I don’t know where my brave husband was, but as I looked around I realized I was the only one standing there who could do something.
Suddenly courage and strength surged through my body. I called out to Steven, “Don’t give up buddy. Wait for me to come to you. You can do it. I’ll help you!”
I said a quick prayer that God would help me and that Steven wouldn’t give up and start repelling his way down before I got to him. In no time, I reached the 20 foot marker. I crossed over the peak and up beside Steven to encourage him, reminding him of how far he’d come. Using my words and my confidence I focused his thoughts towards a higher goal, an inner peak, a reward that would be much greater than ice cream and game tokens – the reward of getting to a placehe had stopped believing he could reach.
My fear was gone. I had stopped thinking about me long enough to focus on helping someone else reach their goal and overcome their fear. Strangely enough, in that moment I overcame mine, and reached a peak of my own.
I became the response of a child’s cry for his father’s help. And that day became a picture of what happens when friends pray for and encourage one another. Like Jesus, we come alongside each other in some of life’s hardest challenges and highest peaks and we say, “Don’t give up, you can do it. Wait for me. I’ll help you.”
In that moment we take our eyes off our fears, our doubts, our struggles and set them on someone else’s needs. There we find faith to believe the power of God’s Word for them, and somehow our confidence in God’s promises and power are true for us in a way they may never have been before. That is the power of a praying friend!
Today, I invite you to join me in a conversation with God and some girlfriends so that we can experience what happens when women pray – for each other. This is your chance to share a request (a need, a hope, a desire) that you want someone to pray for you for this week. In return, you will pray for one person for the next week, too.
And because I love to share with friends books that draw me closer to Jesus, those who participate in our “conversation with God” will be part of a drawing next week for a new book called “Dear Jesus.” It is filled with devotions and scriptures that capture the heart of God’s response to every woman’s longings and intimate struggles.
Here’s how we’ll do this:
Click the word “Comments” below my name on this post (just under the 2nd green box).
Type in your prayer request in the white box.
Include your first name and where you are from.
(If you don’t have a blogger account, you can sign in as anonymous. But please include your first name at the end.) After type your request, click enter. Your comment will post.
Read the prayer request/comment above yours and pray for that friend.
Copy and paste it in an email to yourself as a reminder to pray for your new friend throughout the week.
On Monday, I’ll post about the power of praying God’s Word and share some of my favorite scripture prayers. Wouldn’t it be neat to find a Bible verse to pray for our prayer partner and post it in Monday’s comments? I’ll share how to do that.
There were two people in blessed in my story. But I never would have experienced what God had for me to give or receive that day if Steven hadn’t asked for help. I pray you will experience the power of a praying friend by promising to be one and allowing someone else to be one for you today. Be sure to click “comments” just below this box so that others see your prayer request and you find the request you are to pray for, too.
© 2008 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.
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My prayer request is for my marriage. My husband and I have been married for nearly 10 years and have a delightful 4-year old daughter. We have struggled over the past several years with communicating and meeting each others needs. Please pray that God will rekindle a spark in our marriage and that we both will be open to His leading. Pam
I have a jewelry business that has not been doing…well, or good as I think it should or what it used to be with sales. I have been praying to God for success and I know He is the only answer to my every need and when that does not happen I start getting doubts as to why this is happening. My simple mind does not understand why I cannot have the successful sales I had in the past, or why the gal that says she will have a party never answers me back. Then I think maybe I should just abandon this idea of sales. And then I think what would I do with my life I am so lonely now if I did that I would not even have a life. I sound like a pitiful person when I think of all the trouble of everyone else and major problems of health, money problems, etc. this is stupid and selfish to feel this way, but I cannot help it. I love the thought of someone praying for me and me praying for someone I need that connection. Until then I continue to pray and hope I will not lose hope for without hope Or God what is there in life. I love this blog.
My 13 year old daughter is 4 states away from us at her first youth camp. My prayer request is that they make it home safely this weekend. They are traveling Saturday and Sunday. We have been blessed with such great girls and thank God all the time for them.
Thank you for your prayers,
Cindy in Texas
I hope I'm not messing up the groove here, but I must respond to Eefje (who is praying for my request). I, too, had a baby & moved…OH MY!!! I have never had such a mess & it is so hard to get it in order with a baby! It sounds like your situation is so similar to mine – I was stunned as I read your post! I know you will have another sister praying for you, but I will be praying for you, too!
Thank you so much for your prayers.
I am asking that each of you will pray for strength, guidance, love and a closer relationship with God. I want to use by God like near before, I want to stop thinking about Kimberly and think about God, his goodness, kindness love and how I can be a blessing to someone else. I also, pray that I understand his will/purpose for my life and that I will walk in the direction he wants me to go.
Kimberly
Renee;
What a great idea to have women praying for each other from all over the world! It will be wonderful to see how God will move through each one of us as we pray.
My prayer is to be able to attend seminary as a full-time student and begin building my own business/ministry. God has called me to develop a Christian life-coaching business and to write books and Bible studies for women. He has laid it on my heart to educate, edify and encourage women through the process of spiritual transformation so that they may discover, embrace and celebrate who they are in Christ.
I really want to do this now and want to have the freedom to work for myself vs working for someone else.
I pray that each woman who responds to these prayers is blessed in a mighty way.
Thanks again for starting this!
Monica from Williamsburg, VA
Please pray for my heart…my ACTUAL HEART. I have had an EKG, treadmill test and a nuclear stress test this month and am waiting for the results of the last test. My heart rate is too high for my age (40’s)and fitness level (good). Thanks, Melanie from Florida.
Dear all and especially Tonya,
in 1 kings 19 the story is told about Elijah hitting a rough spot. Especially verses 11-13 are powerful to me. God wants to see Elijah (Elijah will have to step out first) and finally shows himself not in thunder or fire, but in a quiet breeze. When I read about the life of Jesus and how God communicates with us I find it amazing how it is in the tiny and small that most can be found.
I pray that you and your family will experience this also!Peace, balance, harmony and (emotional) healing will be on my mind for you Tonya.
As for my prayer request… it’s a simple and mundane one. I would love to get my household a bit more organised (good enough will do, doesn’t have to be perfect)and get back into a rhythm of just maintaining. After a baby and a move, it is so hard to keep it from being untidy and not so clean. Whilst I know I can accomplish so much more and be more of me, if the house would be okay. Now it is just pulling me away from time with God and it demotivates me in much I (want to) do, not to mention the grumpy moods and overwhelming sulking I seem to get into. Rationally I know, but it feels likes I am being pulled down and can’t beat it. Please pray for courage and willingness to surrender and trust God. Thanks.
Hugs,
Eefje from the Netherlands
thank God for knowing ur husband`s test result and for women worldwide to pray.ur husband`s sickness is not unto death because the lord will perfect that which concerns him.
I loved the devotion today & am excited about joining forces with y'all in prayer! Danielle, you will be bathed in it, sister!!
My mother-in-law is having some health problems right now & needs a touch from the Great Physician. She is struggling with numerous issues (physical & emotional) all at once. As you pray for her, please also pray for wisdom for us, as a family, to know how best to pour love out on her. Thank you (in advance) to the sister who lifts this one up to the Father!
Hello friend,
My prayer request is for my upcoming marriage. I am accused by doubt and constantly worrying in the midst of wanting to love my fiance and plan our wedding. I am sometimes overwhelmed to the point that it is hard to speak. I really desire for both of us to focus on the Lord, but it has become very difficult to do so. Also, please pray specifically for my relationship with my fiance. We are learning what it means to communicate with one another in truth and love. Please pray for him as well during this time.
Thank you!
Danielle- Albany, NY
Sheila, Joy comes in the morning…
Father thank YOU for Sheila,her love for YOU,her family,and your daughters.Thank YOU for giving her the strength,the wisdom,& the peace for now & days to come.Thank You,Father that Sheila KNOWS as a Chaplin,(what an amazing calling),how to bring a prayer to Your throne,Lay them at Your feet & LEAVE THEM THERE in confidence You will handle each request with YOUR Divine answer to each one !!!
Thank you Father for each Sister HERE.Thank YOU that each need is met YOUR WAY ,each heart inspired to do YOUR will,each one comforted by Your amazing way,as only YOU can know all. Thank YOU father for discernment,wisdom,peace,joy,a repentant heart,a desire to serve one another,a longing to be NEAR & close to YOU,a greater desire to be in,discern & do YOUR will. As for my prayer request,i don't even know where to start. We have been out of church for a while,(not seeming to fit),Finances are pretty tight,(we homeschool,but i have put in a job application),there are some things God has spoken to my heart,i just have no idea where to even get started anymore with things i believe He has called me to do. Peace in Christ !!! Love & Live in hope!, miki,just outside of Memphis
JoeAnn … I will pray for you and your neighbor.
For me, the prayer request is complex. I am unable to work because of back surgery I had back in December. Most mornings, it is all I can do to get up. My husband returned to his old job so he could make a little more money to support the three of us. We are still struggling to make ends meet every month. We are not actively involved in a church right now, but we are actively searching for a church to call “home”. Both my husband and I have deep wounds that we are both trying to heal from past friendships gone awry. Please pray for me, for healing so I can return to work and earn some money if that is God’s will. Please pray for our financial struggles, that God will stretch the money we have to cover everything that has to be paid. Also, please pray for the relationship between my mother and I. It is very strained and only seems to get worse during each conversation.
Thanks ladies for praying! And Renee … thanks for orchestrating this prayer chain!
My prayer request is that I will “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Eph 6:7). I am struggling with my job as my true desire is to be a Stay at Home Mom. So, my prayer request is also that if it is God’s will, I will be provided the resources to stay at home with my two girls.
I am Jennifer and I live in Northeast Ohio.
Kelly from Valdese,NC
My oldest son Drew is leaving to go to Japan for an entire year as a missionary (he is 23) I am so blessed but yet I will need strength to not allow missing him dearly to get me down! My middle son Daniel has been on a summer trip to Japan and will return to Iowa on July 29 where he attends college and my youngest son Billy is a preaching minister in Missouri. Pray that I could visit with my two sons soon….empty nest is difficult.
Please pray for my friend and neighbor, Angela. She has stopped going to church and tithing because
she feels people are not real. She is saved but can’t seem to get out of this spiritual rut that she has
found herself in. Thank you in advance for your prayers. I remain
in His love. JoeAnne Howard
Dear Jill,
I share your prayer request for your family and stand with you at the throne of grace for each child, for each person to be bathed in light – a light that banishes the darkness and brings truth. May the Lord sustain you in your positive witness and be a source of JOY!!
In Faith,
Sheila
I am the mother of 2, step mother of 2, and “adopted” mother of 3. My husband is a cancer survivor, with God’s grace, and I suffer with CREST Syndrome. My prayer request is for my step son Chris F, who is recovering from a shoulder reconstruction and the new daddy of Daniel, born with Downs Syndrome and evidence of FAS and cocaine in his system at birth. The mother, Tricia, is barred from contact with them until she completes court ordered rehab. Until then, we must deal with the lawyers, courts, and child protective services as well as provide a home for Chris and Daniel.
I would also like to ask prayer for my son Chris B, who is so angry at God for taking his grandparents. His anger bleeds over into his family (his beautiful wife Sabrina, step son Gabriel who has Autism, and his daughter Autumn). He has been unable to hold a job in years and has severe ulcers and hemroids, which bleed profusely at times. His wife has epilepsy.
Each of my family members come to me to “vent” or to help them with their problems. They have no idea the stress they are causing me and their dad, despite our attempts to tell them. My CREST has flared to the extent that I must now go part time at work (as a hospice chaplain).
Please pray with me for miracles and for strength, for God to shed his light and drive out the darkness that is surrounding my family.
Thank you and God Bless You,
Sheila
What a wonderful illustration – it is a privilege to lift sisters in prayer. My prayer is for my family to soften their hearts towards Christ and realize faith is not the same as religion. Also that I would walk the walk God has called me to, even when it means stepping out of my comfort zone and not getting the approval of those closest to me who don’t understand.
Thanks,
Jill from IA
Hello enjoyed your devotion so much today. always enjoy all of them . my name is jeannie cook I live in livermore, ca. i would like you to pray for my son Aaron and his wife Hollie and their marriage. they have two children, chaila, 9 and little Aaron 7, my grandchild who are my crowns. they have been having trouble for the last year, up and down. they need Jesus. Hollie used to go to church and stopped a year ago, she was baptized going to bible study and then when Aaron went sobber a year ago she started really changing, she stop going to church . she also works from my husband, Craig and I. He work is not where it should be either. She is planning to drive to San diego with a friend on Wed the 23th to a movie review of a new movie coming out named Twilight. it is a romance which involves Vampires. She has read the books that are out. this is not anything we want her to participate in. i have also called kenneth copeland mininstires and CBN, 700 club for agreement and prayer that God would block this, and he knows the right way to do that. Aaron and Hollie need restoration in their marriage, healing in their hearts, living for God and helping others. I spoke to our Son last night and he does not like to talk about it much but he did a little to me and is hurting. he says his wife does not care about him . of course he needs to change big time in his attitude. but my hope is in God and i know he is working in our behalf and is the faithful one. And his promises are all yes and amen. thank you so much. Love jeannie