There is a remarkable young lady who is a friend of a friend of mine, in another state, whom I have gotten to know a bit on Facebook. She often asks her Facebook friends this simple question: “How can I pray for you this week?”

I thanked her and asked her to pray for the health of my husband. Then I asked her how I could pray for her. She responded with a request and a thank you.

Isn’t this what we all should do? Former next-door neighbors of my parents, decades ago, are still friends of mine (and my husband). These days they live far away in Georgia, but we have gotten together over the years in Georgia and Arizona, and we count them as extraordinary friends. When my husband was recently in the Emergency Room, and I was afraid for him, I emailed and asked her to please pray for my husband and me. Yes, I asked for prayers for myself as well. I don’t want to be a widow.

She wrote me the kindest email back letting me know that my husband and I are on her daily prayer list, and have been for years, by name. What an awesome thing the church is! A bunch of redeemed sinners who carry their burdens and those of others to their Lord in prayer.

I thought hard about a title for this post. I have so many friends who don’t seem even remotely religious, and they sometimes surprise me and ask for my prayers. I should know better. When your back is to the wall, and you don’t know where to turn – you turn to God in prayer. You have a conversation with your Lord.

You may not be eloquent or craft your words in a beautiful lyrical cadence. That is irrelevant. What matters is that you pray. When someone asks you to pray for them, what matters is that you do that. Don’t hesitate. Pray for your friend. Your job is to turn to God. Trust God to answer your prayer.

I am very thankful to have such people in my life. I pray that you have such people in your life who will keep you and those you love, in their prayers.