Genesis 20:17
"So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed
Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants;
and they bare children."
When we
pray for another person, we often are rewarded with that same request. In this
case, King Abimelech, his wife, and their female slaves were unable to have
children. Abraham prayed for them, and they were able to conceive. The next
thing we hear about is the miracle of Isaac’s birth. By praying for others,
Abraham had his deepest prayer answered, too.
A question that one might ask? Does this work even
if a person prays for a friend only so
that they themselves will receive equal benefits? Abraham’s prayers were selfless
and sincere. Does it work when the prayer serves a selfish agenda? What
would you answer?
I say, “Yes.” Let me explained it this way: God is the source of all blessings. But there
needs to be a channel that is able to bring God’s blessings into the world. One
such channel is prayer. When we pray, we connect ourselves to God. When we pray
for a friend, we become the channel that connects our friend to God. When God
sends down the requested blessings, we are inevitably filled with those same
blessings, too.
Here is an analogy
to help us understand this concept: Grass needs water, but in order to receive
it, the water has to travel through a hose. Since the hose is the channel for
the water to reach the grass, it can’t help but get wet itself. Similarly, when
we ask for blessings on others, we are touched by the blessings as well.
What a powerful way to give and receive! We usually think of giving and receiving as two separate experiences: giving benefits others, while receiving is good for us. But here we learn that the two acts can become one. By praying for others who need what we need, we can give and receive at the same time! But don’t take my word for it. Try it out yourself!
What a powerful way to give and receive! We usually think of giving and receiving as two separate experiences: giving benefits others, while receiving is good for us. But here we learn that the two acts can become one. By praying for others who need what we need, we can give and receive at the same time! But don’t take my word for it. Try it out yourself!
Amen!
Reading: Gen. 20:1-18; 21:1-7
Ref: HG SB
May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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