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.
I read your devotion “I Hate to Burden You” posted on P31. It was truly a blessing. I have had many things weighing heavy on my mind recently. At the forefornt, was my mother’s health and my budding new business endeavor. My mother was diagnosed with renal failure and at one of her recent check-ups her doctor started the process of preparing for dialysis. Mom has been such a giving person all of her life, to the extent of putting her life on hold to care for me as well as other family members in need. In her retirement, my prayer is that she is able to experience some good times with her sisters. Her going on dialysis would gratly impeede that. Also, I am a newly licensed hair stylist and I am also back in school for my Instructor’s Certification. The combination of both things makes it hard for me to excell at either. I have been blessed with the support of friends and family in sending clients my way, but at nearly 2 months in, I am just surviving. To tie all of this together, after reading the devotional, my mind fell on my E-Sister who over the past few years has shared many devotionals, prayers, funny chains and the like. Using the internet on my phone, I emailed my sister asking her prayers for my mother and my business. She responded with a beautiful prayer and much needed encouragement and support. I am blessed to report that Mom got a good report at the doctor’s today and he has put off seeing her for three months. While she is not completely out of the woods, with God’s help, dialysis is still a good ways off. As far as my business goes, just the blessing that mom received, reaffirms that all is well and God’s in control, so I look forward to His favor in my business. Thank you so much for the devotional, it has helped me not only see God’s light in my life but also the light at the end of the tunnel. Be Blessed!
I’m asking prayer for my finances. I’m asking that god will open a window and poor out blessings that I will not have room enough to receive. I also ask prayer for our church Grace N Mercy, Pastor Joyce Mizzelle that we are in the process of building. Pray that god will release the finances that we need to build up the kingdom of God.
This is for Debbie who is struggling with her son’s addictions and trusting that he is healed.
Debbie, I am praying that you will continually choose to trust God in this. He knows the future so much better than we do and he really wants what is best for your son and for you. God has been showing me over and over that he has plans for us, for a future and a hope. We just need to choose to trust him – I will pray that you will grow in that trust and you will see amazing changes in your son.
Colleen
Dear Sarah, I WILL be praying for your brother. Through this search may the Lord bring healing, restoration, and a new found faith is the perfect plan he has for each of us. I pray for diligence and persistence in the face of obstacles to come. Keep me updated, [email protected]
My prayer is for a remember in asking for His sight, his eyes, and his ears, as he’s asking my family and I to move from Ohio to North Carolina. We pray for peace and patience in the waiting.
I need God’s direction regarding challenging financial situations and circumstances. Some are the result of my own ignorance and procrastination. Pray that I would be able to discern between faith and presumption. That I would have God’s peace and trust in Him. Blessings – Faith
Sarah, I just wanted you to know that I WILL be praying for your brother – whatan amazing journey he is embarking on. May God receive the glory, may healing and restoration be brought, and may He connect like only he can. I would love to keep in touch – [email protected]
I am asking for prayer for my family. We are awaiting the sale of our home as the Lord has called us to move from Ohio to North Carolina.
My prayer is that I will know the right words to say to my cousin, Lisa, at her mother’s memorial service.
Kelly
This is Debbie from Tennessee who
has the son in drug rehab. I am
writing to tell Jessica from California that I am praying for
her and her Aunt Dina who is struggling financially. God is in
control and He will provide. It may be at the last possible minute, but He WILL com through.
By the way, Jana, my first two children came as a gift of my marriage yet the desire of my heart was to have a natural child as well. We went for sixteen months without conception and now our youngest is a definite miracle from God. I am praying for you!!
Please pray for an opportunity for me to stay at home with our 3 children. Pray also for renewed affection between my husband and myself. Thanks!
My husband and I have been trying to conceive for over a year without success. Please pray that God’s will be done with our family. My prayer is that we will conceive and have a healthy pregnancy.
Jana from Arkansas
I have been praying for quite a while that God would restore my home, marriage,and family that has been destroyed by divorce. I feel that God put this burden in my heart to pray for my husband in spite of the divorce–his soul and salvation, return to the Lord, true repentance, return to our home marriage, family, his health, his family , healing of all relationships affected by the divorce, his finances, etc. It has been a long time and our sons are hurting still but also may be giving up . I want to be clear on this and I do feel it be God’s will but I also don;t understand all that happens and the time that is going by. I do not want to diminish or interfere with what god is trying to do in his life. I want my husband to return and it to work out. I do want God’s will in this. I desire for God’s best for us all. I know that he wants none to perish and that he cares for us. Please pray for clarity for us all on God’s will and desires for all of us, healing and forgiveness, softening of hearts, restoration, etc. I pray for god to change me into the woman –wife and mother that he wants me to be, our sons to be godly young men and someday the fathers and sons that god wants them to be, and of course my husband for him to be the husband and father that god calls him to be. KIM F.
I have been fighting ovarian cancer since 1992. God has blessed me with two remissions. The latest recurrence was in 2004 & since then, even after numerous chemo treatments, remission has been out of reach. My prayer request is that my latest blood work will show that I am in remission. I will know the results tomorrow, 7/23. "For nothing is impossible with God". Luke 1:37 Paulette
I hope it’s not too late to join!
I ask for prayer for or family, as we prepare to welcome a baby girl we are adopting (from China) sometime this fall. She is God’s blessing to us after years of trying various means to have children. Please pray for her health and care as she waits for us in China. We are praying that she is loved by her nannies as well.
Also, my husband has found himself in an unusual situation in his job. A transfer fell through literally at the last minute (right after we go our referral), and while he is still under contract with his school district, right now we are praying that a great position will open up for him– we know God’s hand is guiding all of this, even the loss of his other position.
I ask also for prayer for all of the waiting children around the world, waiting for their forever families. God loves them so, but I pray they will also know the love of an earthly family, too. Renee, I’ll continue to pray for your family as you walk through the adoption process.
I will lift up all of the needs posted here, but especially Gina in the Philippines.
Thanks, Renee, for opening this thread– what a blessing!
Kimberly
I am struggling with doubt and unbelief.Thank you for your prayers.Angel/Indiana
This is for my prayer Heidi who I am pryaing for this week who is moving from Florida to California for God give Heidi the strength she needs and the courage to get through this chapter in her life.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Your prayer partner Lisa from Albany,Ga.
I hope this is not too late to sign up for the power of a praying friend.
I would like prayer for us as we are in the process of trying to sell our house in order to move to another city where my husband has to start work in less than a month. We have found a house in that city that we really like and would love to put an offer on it but need to sell ours first. Please pray that if God wills, he would bring the right buyer for our house and that the other house would still be available. Pray that we would be patient and wait for his timing:) Thanks, Colleen
My name is Debbie and I am from
Tennessee. My 27 year old married
son is in a 6 month Christian drug
rehab program. From what I can tell, he seems to be doing great.
My problem is me. I am struggling
with believing that my son will
really be changed when he comes home. For 12 years he has done drugs off and on, partied, lied to
my husband and me, stole money from us, and no telling what else he as done. He’s even been in jail.
He told us several times that he
had changed, but he really had not. I am so afraid that he will
come back home and go right back
into his old life. I am a Christian and my son is a Christian. His counselor said he
is doing great. Even his wife can
tell a difference in him. But, I
am afraid to believe he has changed
because I don’t want to be hurt
again. I know fear is not of the
Lord, but of Satan. But, I just
cannot seem to get past this. Please pray first for my son and
that God will heal him and then for
me that I will have the faith to
believe that God will heal my son
and that I can experience peace
about this situation. Thanks!
hi, my name is Jessica and I’m from Simi Valley, California.
I would like to request prayer for my aunt Dina, she is going through financial harships, she got a house about 1 year and a half ago, but they layoff her husband from his job and now he got a nightshift job but pays a little, and they r trying to rent their house and r trying to find an affordable apt to rent, she feels broken becaude they cannot afford to pay their house and now has to find a place to live. I will greatly appreciate your prayers 🙂 God bless. -Jessica
We are in great financial need. We are one payment away from losing our house, car, and truck.
my husband and I both are in conctruction and we all know how the housing market is right now. Things have picked up some for us but we are so far behind on everything that what we are making doesn’t quite catch us up and by the time more money comes in we are far behind again. We have some property for sale. IF the Lord would choose to find us a buyer we would be in great standing. I realized the market was going to take a nose dive so I bought a women’s consignment shop. I was not able to make full payroll last week and the acct is in the red should all my checks clear. I am in a legal battle with the woman I bought it from because of SO many things, but bretch of contract will suffice to say right now. So I said that to say this, please pray our property will sell. We have four lots. That would take care of EVERYTHING.
Thanks
Roxine
I am asking for prayer for strength and understanding, better paying job so that i can be able to provide for me and my daughter. My husband divorced me last year and I was in school during the time. I had to drop out of school and get a job to maintain the household. I have only been able to make it with the help of my mom and sister. I need to hear from God on what i need to do? what is my purpose in life?
Renee,
I just have been able to read your story on prayer and friends. My family and I sure could use someones prayer. We just found out last week that our oldest son who is deaf. Not only does he have a Lung Disease but and Auto immune disease. But now he has the bad kind of rhemitoid arthistis. Let’s just say the wind went out of our sail’s. But I’m glad we have Jesus as our anchor. My son is so precious the way he serves the Lord is by taking up offering at chruch which I might add a very cheerful giver as well. Thanks, for taking time to hear my request.
In Christ,
Jeannine
Please pray for my husband as he begins the process of writing a resume and looking for a new job.
Thanks for your prayers.
Blessings,
Pearls from PA
My prayer is for my husband and his new job selling copy machines. I pray that God will show him what he needs to do and where he needs to go.
My prayer request is that God will give my Husband the direction he needs for his future. We were at New Orleans Theological Seminary when Hurricane Katrina hit and we were evacuated back to our home town. The seminary was closed, other doors were closed and financial struggles came into play and we were not able to go back to seminary. Just recently, someone designated money from our church to pay for my husband’s tuition and books so that he can go back to school and finish his degree but only if he will go full-time, which would require us to move again. It took a lot for my husband to make that commitment the first time and then we ended up back in Pensacola after the hurricane. Both sides of our family are here in our hometown and my husband has been at our church since he was 3 years old. I just want us to be in God’s will and if we are supposed to go back to seminary, it will take God getting my husband’s attention for us to go. Wherever the Lord leads him to go, I will follow.
Thank you for your prayers for my family.
To Pam in TX: I ask our Father to give you wisdom, patience and most of all unconditional love. It is what keeps me committed to the raising of my five grandchildren. It is a long, weary journey that never ends but one of my greatest loves that I have ever experienced is that of and for my grandchildren. Peace be unto you. Ms Nina
Please pray for me as I enter my second month of fertility treatments and IUI with my husband. It is difficult to hold on to my hope, as we’ve been trying to have a baby for so long–almost four years. We had a miscarriage about a year and a half ago. I have learned so much about God’s beautiful love for me during this procedure. I see how he has brought me closer to Him and to my husband, and how He has used me as an instrument of His peace. But it is hard to wait and be patient, and it is hard to keep His hope and joy in our hearts. Please pray for this peace to come upon our hearts in the coming month. Please help me to praise and thank the Lord through the tears! Thank you, Beth
My prayer is for my daughter. She is expecting her first baby on September 6th. She lives at home with us (her mom and dad). We have no idea what issues we will all face with the Daddy, he is currently not in the picture at this time. I am just praying for God to direct our paths and help us to know his will when it comes to the issues surrounding the baby’s father. One of the most disturbing things is the baby’s daddy does not believe in God whatsoever. So, I am also praying that he will find God in his life.Pam / Boerne, TX
This is for Joy who was having a hard time stating that she is needs her desire for the Lord renewed and for the Lord to wash away the guilt of the past. I was one who not only walked away from the Lord and did things that I never thought I would. I went from being a totally dedicated christian to a person that I didnt even know. I began drinking, I started smoking again, I was going through terrible things with my husband and was seeking a divorce from him and also began an affair. Getting back to the Lord was very hard for me because the enemy kept reminding me of my sins! A dear close christian friend of mine (who continued to love me in spite of my sins)gave me a scripture that truly help me…Psal 51. This is the prayer that David prayed after being confronted by the prophet Nathan regarding his sin with Bath-Sheba. The Lords forgiveness is there for you if you have repented. It is satan who continues to make you feel the guilt and shame! He wants to continue to bring it up to you. To remind you of the things that you have done. But God has cleansed you by the blood of Jesus! His grace is more than sufficient! I will keep you in prayer as one sister who has been there and can have empathy for your situation. with love in Christ Jesus. Julie from Indiana
Sarah my thoughts and prayers will be with you and your brother. God will provide the wisdom to say and connect on the right things, His things. I am also prayeing for the peace that come with reconciliation.
My prayer request is for the peace of God as I search for employment. I want to be in the center of God’s will, no matter where that may take me.
Martha
I pray that each and everyone of you is given peace and grace through your requests! I could not find just one to pray for! May wisdom and patience be rained on you as each and every one of you walks through your daily life.
In christ’s love
Kathy, I will be praying for you. I too am in the exact same situation and there are scriptures that have encouraged me that I would like to share with you. Psalm 37:25:I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
I hope these scriptures will encourage you. My prayers are with you!
Julie
Please pray for my daughter. She just had her third invitro and she is very weary of the whole treatment. My younger daughter is pregnant so this is also hurting my older daughter. Please pray for God’s will in this situation. Infertility can be so painful. I am afraid she is becoming bitter towards God.
Thank you for this opportunity to make “friends”. I do not have any. Many people I know, but not friends. My prayer is for strength and a clean heart as I endure the ups and downs of everyday life with 5 grandchildren and 2 adult children in the house while trying to some how find a life for myself. I am so weary and feel like running away but I made a committment and I am still hanging in there after all these years. Bless you for this opportunity. I usual just rely on myself and my own prayers. With many tears
Ms Nina
My husband and I have been trying to conceive for over a year. We have been unsuccessful and I am trying to remain prayerful about God’s will and timing. Please pray for us as we continue trying to conceive.
Janna
Thank you for your awesome and powerful message on the Power of a Praying Friend. I can relate with you because I do not like to impose on friends, and I find myself sometimes dealing with issues alone that would have been shared with friends. I need prayer for my teenage daughter who is pregnant, and her dad who has not talked to her for 8 months. I need prayer that God restores their relationship. Thanks, Annah
Diane,
I have continued to pray for you over the weekend and will continue through out the weeks to come.
We must thank Jesus in-advance for the things we hope for. Our Lord is in the business of even changing our sibblings. Our GOD can use what ever has already been done to us, for His glory and good.
We must line ourselves up,according to His will(be/stand exactly where Jesus wants us to be.That we can control w/HIS help, then be still.)Watch with anticipation! He will do the rest, in His timing.
“We thank you and praise you Lord, in-advance for all our answered prayers.”
God Bless you all.
Kathie of CA
I know that I am a little late to join in but Sonia, I will be praying for you and your kids. Please pray for my mother in law who is battling cancer. She has been so brave and a true inspiration but her fight is both physically and emotionally exhausting. Thank you for your prayers!
Mindy
My prayer request:
My husband left me last year in July. I have 3 teenage children who need to know God as their Father and need Jesus to bind up their broken hearts. I need His strength and direction for my future.
Sonia
Hey Renee, I need prayer, just as I was reading the comments posted on your blog, somebody walked into my office and said he was thinking of me and normally when that happens he wants to know what it is and that he can pray for me, I said nothing, but I lied and I know God put me on this man’s heart for a purpose, please pray for me for my marriage, have a lovely husband, but just struggling to be intimate, now you know why I cannot tell this other man. Also pray for my children’s studies.
Please pray that Larry would find a job quickly and that I would not worry. That I would trust God because He sees the big picture and I do not.
Kathy
I am seeking prayer for my husband Jim. In short he is saved, a good willed man with a good heart. However, his harsh tone and words, and angry actions cut through me and my children like a knife. He was raised that way plus he has a military background. I have been praying alone for him and his behavior for along time. I need an intervention so that I can continue to live out the gospel as I should. Please pray for him and our marriage.
Melissa from NC
So much to pray for. I would just like to encourage all of us to remember that we are more than conquerors in christ and all the things set in front of us we will overcome. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. I encourage each of us to annoint our homes with praise and worship. Please pray for a family in our church the father is having brain surgery this tuesday and again next tuesday. He is a father of 4 children and a beautiful wife. Hang in there ladies this is the day the lord has made rejoice and be glad in it.
God Blessings to you all
Renee thanks so much for your devotion. It reminded me that I am not self-suficient and in addition to relying on God, I also need to be reying on my friends. I need prayer to have the courage open up and be vulnerable with my friends, allowing them to see my faults and weaknesses. Also with finding balance as a mom, wife, friend, part-time teacher, and my responsibilities in the church.
-Sandy in Maryland
My prayer is that i get a loving and caring husband who cares for me and my son. i also pray for a good paying job, and that i will get a job where i applied. i want also good accommodation by august. thank you for your prayers
Marther – ZIMBABWE
My prayer is that i get a loving and caring husband who cares for me and my son. i also pray for a good paying job, and that i will get a job where i applied. i want also good accommodation by august. thank you for your prayers
Marther
I have posted my prayer request on my blog sight posted Sunday evening and I do hope for your prayers. Thank you!
Anonymous-I will pray for your situation daily!!!
In His Graces~Pamela
I am a widow with 3 beautiful girls with hearts for the Lord… My best friend/husband went to be with the Jesus, 10 years ago… I was happy raising my girls and started praying if the Lord wanted me to marry again,,, He would bring me a man. (I havent’t dated in 10 years… I met Kevin online, fell in Love again… Only when I met him..face to face I pretty much rejected him…(cause he was 2 inches shorter than me…very very stupid.. So the relationship was ruined…The good that came out of is was that it pushed me into the arms of JESUS.. My desire is just to trust the Lord and OBEY …(Some times I still want Kevin back, but mostly what I want is the LOrds plan for my life. He has put it on my heart that I would LOVE to be married… So please pray for disernment and Just for me to follow Gods leading… Blessing to you all sisters in christ.. kathy
Pam I am lifting you and your husband up in prayers right now… Rest assured, God is in control and he will honor your request…in his timing God bless you
My prayer request is actually kind of for both my husband and myself. I am longing to adopt a daughter from Asia and be a mother once again and my husband is not sharing in my desire. I am asking that you pray for him to feel the desire as I do in my heart or if it is truely not meant to be that you pray to take that desire from my heart. I feel very torn as I think of it all the time and I am afraid that it will become a resentment in our relationship if he never comes around and I just can’t let go of the idea.
Pam
I am already praying for all of you who have posted here. It is uplifting to see how many women are trusting the Lord with their heaviest burdens. I would be grateful if you would include me in your prayers. My family and I were hoping to purchase the house we live in from our landlord, but he is being very unreasonable. I know we can find another home for a much better price than he is demanding (the sad thing is that he is actually shooting himself in the foot–the price is terribly unreaslistic, even laughable, in this market, and we seriously doubt he’ll sell to anyone), but the uncertainty about where we’ll be living in the next several months is killing me, as well as the thought of packing up and moving from a home that we love. Would you pray for a speedy resolution to our situation? Time is of the essence because of the impending start of the new school year for my children.
Thank you!
Charlene