Prompted to Pray

And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20 )

Does God wake you up in the middle of the night as he sometimes does me? Does he nudge you awake from a perfectly good dream at two in the morning and then keep you wide-awake? Does he bring a friend or family member to mind almost out of the blue? Maybe someone you haven't heard from or thought of for quite a while? Does he urge you to pray for them? If so, are you obedient?

At times I will receive notes or e-mails from friends who say that they've been praying for me. Often they will say that God put it on their hearts to pray for me. I covet these prayers. Just knowing that God is urging people to pray for me gives my heart a renewed sense of joy and purpose. It tells me that God is interested in what I do and that he wants my life to remain obedient and on track. There is nothing my friends could do to invigorate my soul more than to cover me in their prayers. And there is nothing God could do to make me feel more loved.

When the Spirit prompts us to pray, it is a powerful testament to God's active participation in our life "Prayer starts with God," says Lloyd John Ogilvie. "It is his idea. The desire to pray is the result of God's greater desire to talk with us …. He is the initiator." Throughout Scripture we see God's desire to engage with his people. He wants to speak to us, and he wants us to speak back. When you are prompted to pray, know that the dialogue has begun and the ball is in your court. It's your turn to speak back even if it's two in the morning.