Why Do We Need the Church? Praying for One Another

Colossians 1:9

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light” (Colossians 1:9-12)

“Please pray for me.” Do these words sound familiar to you? I am sure at some point you have asked someone in your church to pray for you or promised to pray for someone. Sometimes these words tend to roll out of our mouths with little thought. We mean well, but let’s be honest, it can be a challenge to pray for everyone around you who needs prayer.

One of the greatest things we can do for one another is to pray for one another. In fact, we need the church to pray for one another.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16) 

We have the joy, responsibility, and hope of praying for one another which is another reason we need the church.

In late 2022, Gina noticed an unusual spot on my back. We didn’t think much about it but in just a few weeks we saw it was changing. This led to quite a journey that we were not prepared for. The tests determined this spot was an advanced staged melanoma (skin cancer) and I needed surgery and treatment. During surgery, the melanoma spot and several compromised lymph nodes were removed. And for the last year, I have been going through cancer treatments each month. I chose not to share this over social media but shared it with family, close friends, and a few churches where I’ve been serving, and all of these dear ones have been praying for us. 

That phrase, “praying for us,” means so much more to Gina and me than ever before. We had family, friends, and even some acquaintances from all over the country praying for us. From the North Georgia mountains to Chattanooga, TN to Florida to Indiana to New Jersey to our hometown of Memphis, TN to people in our own church family and friends here in the Atlanta area, people prayed for us and let us know they were praying for us.

Last Thursday I completed my year-long cancer treatments and received the news that all of my scans were clear! Of course, I will be seeing cancer doctors for a while, but after 13 months of surgery, treatments, side effects, and transparently, some anxiety and concern, this chapter is closed. After sharing with some in our church family this Sunday, it was such a joy to have people say to me, “David, we have been praying for you.” I am overwhelmed by the prayers of our family and friends!

Knowing that people have been praying for us has lifted our spirits when we struggled and encouraged us on challenging days.  And I believe God heard the prayers of His people and sustained Gina and me through it all, as well as moved in my body for healing.

Why do we need the church?

We need the church because we need people who will pray for us, petitioning God on our behalf and lifting us up to God on our dark days. We need the church because there are people in the church who need us to pray for them. Many need prayer for health challenges, financial difficulties, relationship breaches, and spiritual needs. And these need to know that you are praying for them!

Are you praying for someone? Who in your church family needs your prayers right now? Who needs you to lift them to Jesus? I encourage you to pray for them. Before the busyness of the day begins, pause and pray for them right now, and then send them a text, an email, or a note just to let them know you are praying for them. It will be a great encouragement to them!

And thank you, to all of you who have taken the time to pray for me!