Even groans count

What does it mean to pray for someone?

Clearly this was a key priority for the apostle Paul, who seems to be praying for lots of people all the time. For example, he writes to Timothy:  “I am grateful to God ... when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.” (2 Timothy 1:3)

But he also expected others to pray for him. So he asks the Christians in Thessalonica: “Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

For those first disciples, mutual prayer support was critical. In this they were simply following Jesus' clear example, as he prayed for individuals. To Simon Peter he says: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.”

Jesus models intercessory prayer. But for me, the question is: how?

I've been pondering that this week as I seek to obey Jesus and prioritise prayer. I remember something a vicar in East Twickenham said when I was there on placement as an ordinand all those years ago. When you spend time in prayer each morning, he said, that is the most important thing you will do that day — especially on those days when nothing much seems to have happened.

Nowadays, in retirement, I've developed a daily routine. I begin with a Psalm and then my Bible reading through BRF Guidelines. This prepares me for a time of intercessory prayer — praying for others. Over the years I've developed a fairly structured pattern using prayer diaries and different themes for different days of the week.

It all sounds very holy. In reality, it's often quite matter-of-fact — rather like putting the bins out on a Tuesday evening. And, as you might expect, there are days when it all feels rather hollow.

“You call that prayer?” says the devil. “Yes,” I reply. “It's in the name of Jesus. I'm just doing what I'm told.”

But how do I pray for individuals?

On Tuesdays, for example, I pray for all my former curates and their families — around 15 names in total. For some I know quite a lot about their current situation; for others I may be several months out of date. So often it is simply a name.

The same happens in church intercessions. At many of the churches where I help out, I'm given a list of perhaps twenty names. If I'm honest, it can sometimes sound like a roll call or even a shopping list — one name after another with very little detail.

Does that count as prayer?

There is always a temptation to add more words. Instead of simply praying for James, I find myself wanting to say: “Bless James richly with all the resources of heaven. Guide him by your Holy Spirit. Protect him from all the assaults of the devil ...” And so on, just spiritual mush. Or in the words of Jesus: “vain repetitions.”

But can I simply pray for James by name and leave it there? After all, God knows James infinitely better than I do. As Bishop Gene Robinson helpfully observed: “God doesn't need me to remind God of what God already knows. God doesn't need to be briefed.”

Going back to shopping lists, I'm always amazed by how quickly the self-checkout scanners work. Sometimes I barely pick up an item before it has already been recognised. In a fraction of a second all the information is there.

How much more for God - he knows our needs in an instant?

The moment we bring someone before him, he already knows everything there is to know about that person. We have simply spoken their name. Just like that.

I recently read a book on prayer by Rowan Williams. He says prayer may be as simple as repeated words such as, “Lord, have mercy,” or “God, come to my aid.” Then he adds: “Sometimes ... it's the end, too. Most of us never get much further than that.”

And remember, God is committed to helping us pray. As Paul writes in Romans 8:26, paraphrased in The Message:

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.”

In God's economy, even groans count. So adding a name is a bonus,

I find that deeply encouraging. On those mornings when my prayers feel thin and my concentration wanders, I can still bring people before God. I may not know what they need, and I may not know what to say, but I can say their name. And that is enough.

Decide now. Take one person, speak their name before God, and leave them there. You may feel you've done very little. But in faith you have placed them into the hands of the One who knows them, loves them, and cares for them far more than you ever could.