What matters you ask? It is whatever or whoever you are ushering into the throne room of God during prayer. It does not have to be a prayer where you try to figure out what someone needs, because God knows the need, better than you or the person you are praying for. And better yet, He has a plan, a perfect plan.

Matthew 6:6-8
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

When you pray for someone God hears. Whether it is a whispered prayer, just a name, or a prayer that comes from the depths of your soul, with groans and sobs that you cannot know, God hears.
1 John 5:14
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything to his will, he hears us.”

We are encouraged to ask, we are encouraged to speak a name. God knows what we have need of, but he still says to come, to ask.
Luke 11:9
“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”

If you tell someone you are going to pray for them, sometimes it needs to be done right then. No waiting. You say, ” well I was at the store and it just seemed weird to pray right there in the aisle.”
Never be ashamed to lay a hand on a person in need and simply say, “Jesus, help my friend”. It does not have to be a long drawn out thing, all prayer from your heart matters!

Many people have good intentions, they say, “yes, I will pray for you”, and at that moment they truly believe they will remember and pray, but all too often we get busy and it just slips our minds especially if prayer is not a daily thing we do. So, if you prayed at that moment of contact, at least there is one. Our prayers matter, not because God doesn’t already know their need, it isn’t that he needs our ideas on how to answer, or a plan for later. It grows us, it stretches our faith, it causes us to stop and really connect with God. It shows him we have faith.

If we are prayerless it gives the enemy a hole to jump through. He sees that we are weak in faith, in spirit, maybe even in our minds and bodies. If we choose not to prayer we are leaving ourselves open to attack. Prayer strengthens us for our daily tasks, it helps strengthen us in overcoming temptations.
Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

It matters. It matters for our minds to keep them focused on things above. It matters to our faith to grow it. It matters to God or he would not have told us to do it!

Prayer is a gift that we too often neglect to open. We never tap into the power that can be found in prayer. Prayer not only changes things, but prayer also changes us.

Many years ago I was in a season where I was spiritually, mentally and physically depleted. I had just had it. I felt beat up by life. Instead of running to the throne room of heaven and seeking help from my Father, I got withdrawn, I stopped asking, I stopped searching, I stopped reaching for that peace that passes understanding. What a mistake that was. The enemy had been prowling around looking for a way in and he found it. Keep her from seeking God and let her lean on her own devices and see where it gets her. I will not go into it, but needless to say, life unraveled.

My already heavy heart could not bear the weight of anything. My tired body just wanted rest. My spirit felt numb…isolated I was. My enemy pounced…it took a very long time to recover.

See, we were not made to go it alone in our Christian walk. We are in a relationship with Jesus, we need to sit and have a little talk with him, daily. We need the council of the Holy Spirit to direct our paths. We need the fellowship of other believers and those willing to intercede and stand in the gap for us. Do not ever think that the prayers you pray over others fall on deaf ears. No, I believe that when we utter a name, God leans close and listen intently. Jesus himself intercedes for them and for us.

No, it is no small matter this thing called prayer. Do it often and while you are there, say thank you for all those times he has heard and answered. Even if it was a no, you can believe it was for your good and His glory.