I was tackling some chores at home one afternoon when my thoughts drifted to the dental appointment I’d had earlier that morning. Though I don’t enjoy going to the dentist, I am thankful that I have access to modern dental treatment, and I had made a point of telling the woman who cleaned my teeth how much I appreciated her care. However, later, as I tended to my domestic duties, it occurred to me that I could take things a step further and actually return the care she had given me by praying for her.
After asking God to bless her and her family, I got to thinking about how many people I receive services from—people like the dentist and her staff, the eye doctor and his assistants, the men and women who ring up and bag my groceries, and the mechanic who works on my car—and how rarely I pray specifically for them. Yet in 1 Timothy 2:1, the apostle Paul instructs us to “pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them” (NLT).
So, I’m doing my best to be more intentional about praying for the individuals I come into contact with during the course of my everyday life.
How about you? Who has blessed you recently? Who has tended to the needs of your body, soul, or spirit? I encourage you to say a prayer for them, and if possible, thank them in person too.
Showing Care Through Prayer
