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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As I prepare to leave for my first ever mission trip to Guatemala on Tuesday, pray that God prepares my heart for whatever lies ahead. I ask for prayer for safe travels and that the health issues that I have been dealing with recently will not interfere with what God has in store for me, as well as our mission team.
Beth from Milwaukee, WI
Please pray for this weekend for me!! I met a great guy and will be seeing him at work this weekend. Please pray for God to give us some time together so we can talk and get to know each other better!!
Please pray for our relationship and that God takes it where he wants to!! Thank you sooo much.
Melissa
Tina in Ohio, I’m lifting you and your family up before the Lord. (If you click on my name it should lead you to my email address; I’d love to hear from you!) My request is for the discernment and control to not run ahead of God but to be faithful in planting the seeds He wants me to and trust Him to do the rest.
I am asking you to lift up my daughter, Abbie. She was wrongly accused of disorderly conduct after being attacked by another girl at a festival. We had to retain a lawyer (big bucks) but we need to get it off her record because she wants to become a nurse and this could interfere with future employment. I ask you to pray for vindication and victory for her. Thank you. Wendy
Prayer is amazing and here we are given a oppurtunity to serve our sisters in Christ.
I come before you and ask for prayer in the area of fear & anxiety, God's word tells us not fear anything and not be anxious of anything, the Lord has tested my faith with circumstances over the last 9 months, with health issues and the health of my loved ones, I also am in fear of God's second coming, fear I will be left behind, this fear has been within me since a small child, but it stems from my mother leaving the home when I was young, so I have a fear of abandoment and don't want to ever pass that on to my children, I don't want them to struggle in their faith. I have allowed my emotions and my thinking to dictate how my heart works and I'm done, I know this isn't what God has intended for my life and I just pray for strength to reclaim the deep desire I have for a UNSHAKEN FAITH, I pray also that my husband will be saved, going through what I have been through spiritually single is hard, but I persevere! I will be praying for everyone else and thanks Renee for your dedication to the body of Christ.
In Him,
Renee
[email protected]
Please pray for a perfectly healthy baby due to be born by a scheduled c section to my son & his wife today July 18th at 12:30 p.m. pacific time. I'm praying that perhaps she (it's a girl!) will be the catalyst to encourage them to change their lifestyle and live a healthier one.
Sallie in California
We have a 13 month old daughter with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Our family is blessed to have her in our lives,she is a miracle.We have had a long journey to this point.
My prayer is to have God lead us to finding our "new normal".I also need prayer for my own heart to be filled again,because I have been totally zapped of everything due to the emotional rollercoaster we now ride.
God has carried us through so much,but I guess I am doubting how far he will take us.I am so scared of loosing our miracle.I have also caved to an attack of Satan and now have lots of guilt surrounding this sin.
I know the power of prayer.I have witnessed it with our daughter. The doctors told us she would not live,and if she did, she would not have a good quality of life.God had other plans!She is now thriving & completes our family!
Thank you Renee for this awesome idea,& thank you to my prayer sister! I will also be praying for not only the previous sister,but all who have requests.
Blessings,
Tina from Ohio
Prayer request- change of career for me. Divine Direction from the Holy Spirit and confirmation that I will know that this is the path God has for me now. Help with balance of all things in my life, body, and health.Thank you. Maria
I just found this site the other day, read Renee’s personal story on prayer today and her blog. I have never asked for prayer from people I don’t know but here goes. I am a single mom I am looking for another job that pays better because I am barely getting by. There are days when I am so tired trying to be strong for my kids, encouraging them to pursue their goals. All I do is work, come home, cook dinner go to bed. As I’m writing this I’m on the verge of tears because I am just so tired of trying to keep my spirits up. Please pray for me to keep trusting God that things will work out, to get a better job so I don’t have to keep depending on my parents and to love myself.
Thank you,
Joy
I recently moved into a 3 bedroom townhouse thinking my 23 year old daughter and her two young babies were going to stay with me, well she has moved out. The financial burden is too much and I don’t have the money too move again so I am locked in for the next year. I am really lonely, scared and worried. Please pray that God would provide a the right roommate and help me to move on with my life that I don’t feel like I have. My name is Lynn from Chicago.
I am asking for prayer for my sister Judy in Canada. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and was 8 months short of 10 years of being cancer free. She was diagnosed again in September 07, and had to have a breast removed. She has recently gone for a bone scan, and they have requested for her to return and have it done again, but this time they would like to concentrate on her left rib cage, and back. The doctors’ are hoping to see a clear scan, and nothing black, or any holes. My sister has not made the appointment, because she’s afraid of the results, and so am I! I lost my dad 7 years ago from lung cancer, and I only have one sibling which is my sister Judy who I love, and couldn’t imagine my life without. Could I humbly ask for your prayers for her that all her tests will come back positive, and that Our Heavenly Father will remove every cancerous cell in her body that we may have her around for a long time? Thank you, and please pray for me that God will grant me the strength and courage to walk this road with my sister no matter what the out come may be. God bless you all… Donna
First i want to say that I am praying for you and your family.
My prayer request is that Ihave trouble with DOUBT and ANXIETY! Like right now I am leaving my church that I have been in for about 10 years.So please if you would pray for my main two things i try and deal with everyday i sure would appreciate it so very much!May GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
My name is BECKY and i am from WELSH,LOUISIANA
Prayer request- change of career for me. Divine Direction from the Holy Spirit and confirmation that I will know that this is the path God has for me now. Help with balance of all things in my life, body, and health.Thank you. Maria
First let me begin by saying that the daily devotions have been a blessing, I am in need of prayer for my financial situation, I am going through a rough period, I am trying not to lose all I have worked for my home, my car, my bills, and I have a son in his second year of college, I know the Lord will provide and make a way, I just need someone to pray with me. I don’t know what else to do besides pray. Thank You,
Tonya Allison, Milton, FL
My mother-in-law, Audrey, has lung cancer and is now in a nursing home under hospice care. I have spoken and prayed with her about her faith in Jesus – she does believe that Jesus is her Savior and that she is going to heaven – please pray for her comfort – she is in a lot of pain – and also pray for her children, Willie, Charlie, and Susan. Please also pray for me (Leslie) and her other daughter-in-law, Ann that we may minister to her fruitfully in her last days. We do not know how much longer she will be with us.
Thank you for praying and may God Richly bless you!
Leslie.
I was reading an email my friend sent me and I came across your website. I’m from Dinwiddie County (near Petersburg), VA. My wife packed her luggage and left in the truck with a guy to Tennessee (who has since left her) on 10 February 2008. I haven’t talked to her in 12 days because she acts like we could get back together and then doesn’t answer me when I ask her if she wants to come back to me. I think that she doesn’t know what she wants. She’s also with the first guy’s brother and his family in Tennessee. I love her and I really would like for her to come back to me so that we can start over and be a family again. Please pray for us. God bless, Gerry.
Please pray for me Samuel and Joyce my wife for we have been praying that the good Lord will give us children in our marriage. we have been married for the past14 years but no children. Please pray for us.
Samuel(London UK)
My 21-year-old daughter has returned home with her 2 1/2-year-old son. She is in the middle of a divorce from an abusive husband. She met him when she ran away from home on her 18th birthday. She came back home seemingly repentant for what she had done, and said that she was different now. We agreed to help her through the divorce and help her with caring for our grandson. The only real difference that we have noticed in the past two months is that she now has a son. She is a good mother, when she is here. Therein lies the problem – she is supposed to be living here, but for the past week and a half, she has not slept one night at our house (her son has been with us). Apparently, her rebellious nature is in full swing. My husband had a talk with her last night and she left here really mad. They will be talking again later and rules laid down so that she has to spend the nights here. There is so much going on in this situation that I could easily fill a book telling you about it. I would like people to pray that my daughter’s eyes will be opened to what she is doing, that she will have a submissive and gentle spirit, that she will listen to her father and me, and most importantly, that she will listen to what God is telling her.
I would like to thank your Renee for allowing me onto this site. I know this site was sent by the Holy Spirit.
I would also like to have the ladies pray for me.
I am struggling with a husband of 30+ years that is caught up with sexual addictions on the internet. It has ruined our marriage and that hurts. I’m a Realtor in a slow market. I have been a Realtor for over 20+ years. I need the strengeth to find work as I am broke. My husband is not helping me financially anymore. Over the last couple of years I found out that as I was making money he was spending it as fast as I was putting it in the bank. Now that I have shut down that account. I am having a difficul time getting my strength back into the field. Please pray for my sanity as I made decisons as to what I should do. I am trusting God to show me a positive way to get back into the field and take care of me and my 15 year old daugher.
Thanking you in Advance for the comments and prayers.
Kay Porter
My prayer is that I will get out of this dry season of my life. Every desire to read the word and pray have just dried up. Fear has ingulf me like never before, and I know better, because God did not give me the spirit of fear. But these days for me, knowing and walking it have being two different things. Thank for your prayers, Maxine San Antonio, Tx