Getting married turned my perspective on prayer as intercession into a means of love. God sees all, while I don’t. God knows all, while I don’t. God is purely, infinitely, perfectly wise, and I’m not. God is ultimately, mercifully, powerfully sovereign, and I am not.

Holding friends and family in the presence of God is my best way of loving them. Apart from specific circumstances and needs, I’ve started regularly praying for 4 things: Presence, faith, joy and wisdom.

I’m borrowing this method/habit from Shauna Niequist, who borrows it from Jesus:

Prayer is a way to entrust the people we love to God, especially when things feel out of our control. I’ve felt that out-of-control feeling so acutely this last year—I think all of us have. Prayer is acknowledging that we are not in control—but that someone is. There is a God who holds us, who holds it all, who is trustworthy and powerful, and who is more than strong enough to hold the enormity of our fear and worry. In the New Testament, Jesus prays for his disciples, the group of people he loves, about four specific things: union, protection, joy, and sanctification. #

As I’m driving around, as I think about my friends, as I’m rocking Julia, as I wash dishes… these are the 4 things I started praying. The simplicity of it carved a well-worn path and now I find myself talking to God about these things almost without conscious thought.

• That the presence of God would fill their homes, their hearts and minds
• That they would have deep joy in Christ, in life, in their work, in their people
• That they would have wisdom from God; His discernment and clarity and vision for decisions, problems and questions
• That they would walk in courageous trust, by faith and not sight

Prayer is a way to entrust the people we love to God.

What would your 4 things be?

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