Prayers for Change

Seven Simple Words

On a recent Sunday, I was hurrying down the building corridor when I passed an older gentleman and said a brief hello. He stopped and began to earnestly tell me how his very ill four-month-old grandson was in a large children's hospital, where doctors were unable to diagnose his condition.

As he finished sharing, I said simply, "Can I pray for you right now?" It only took a moment to pray, but God's presence with us was powerful. We parted ways, trusting God to move in this baby's life.

Can I pray for you right now?

These seven simply supernatural words capture the essence of compassionate ministry. Everyone can be attentive and ready to speak them wherever the opportunity arises—whether in the church building, on the street, or in our homes or workplaces. And in this practice of praying for others, we sense God's heart, we share His love, and we often find ourselves engaged in ministry outside the church service.

A young man from our congregation was on his college campus when he stopped to talk to a distraught student and ended up asking, "Can I pray for you right now?" A new mom from our church was pushing her stroller through the neighborhood when she met another new mom. When her neighbor shared some struggles, she asked, "Can I pray for you right now?"

Sometimes miracles happen when we pray for others. Other times, we don't see any change, but we have still shared the love and mercy of Jesus with another person.

"Can I pray for you right now?" are words that help us take part in culturally relevant mission as we go about our everyday lives.

Adapted from "Five Core Values: Seven Simple Words" by Dianne Leman.