John 17:13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”

Prayer can get complicated. It is talking to God and not to man, which is why Jesus told us to go into a private place to pray, (Matthew 6:6) and he put the Pharisees down for liking to pray in public places. (Matthew 6:5) However, sometimes our prayers need to be heard by those we are with. Jesus, who did everything perfectly, is here saying that He is praying out loud for the sake of His disciples who could hear Him. He wasn’t praying to His disciples, but He was praying for them, in more senses than one. I’m sure every Christian has been blessed at times to hear other believers pray. Those words can be encouraging, and even prophetic and healing. However, if we are caught up in how our prayers will sound to other people, they won’t be prayers at all. We’ve all heard “prayers” like that, and probably have said a few ourselves. Prayer must be focused on the One to whom we are praying, but when that is the case, it can bless others as well.

At this point there is a young woman in another part of Japan who calls me most days, to receive advice but most especially to hear me pray for her, I think. I could, and do, pray those same things for her when I’m not on the phone, but hearing me pray is a blessing to her. We have an interdenominational prayer meeting here once a month, and the main feature is hearing people from different churches pray for specific topics, allowing their words to inform and expand our own prayers. All that said, it is very common for Japanese believers in particular to be hesitant to pray in public, because they are worried about what others will think of them and their prayer. As a pastor, I seek to grow each believer in prayer, to focus on God and know that He is the almighty Creator who loved them so much that He sent His Son to die for them. When we have that framework, prayer of all sorts becomes a delight. I am to be a model “pray-er,” letting people know by example that God is accessible, that He is really listening, and we don’t have to put on airs, but just be open and honest with Him. I am to stay focused on my Lord and delight to talk with Him, guided by His Spirit, so that His words may flow through me for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I be the prayer warrior You want me to be, indeed “praying without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) so that Your will may be done through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!