Prayer VIII: Praying for Others

 When it comes to praying for other people, many things come to mind. Healing, safety/security, spiritual growth, blessings, strength, and other things of this nature. Is there a difference, though, on how we pray for people? Is there a distinction between how we pray for believers vs. non-believers? How about leaders vs. lay people? What are some barriers that get in between our prayers for others? To answer these questions, let's first look at how Paul prayed.
 In Colossians 1, Paul is praying for the Spiritual well-being of the church in Colossae. His prayer isn't a simple "bless them," but rather it is more personal. For their spiritual growth and continuation in the faith. Paul speaks of them with fond affection. Paul, however, has never met these believers. He is praying for a church he has never personally been to, and he's praying fervently, personally, and not at all generically. If Paul is praying for believers he has never met with such exuberance, how much more should we, as fellow-believers in Christ, pray for other Christ-followers?
 In James 5, we are told to pray for those believers who are sick. Also, if they have committed sin, to raise them up and the sin will be forgiven them. Why does James associate illness with sin? Is all illness caused directly by sin? No, not as such. But is all illness caused by sin entering this world and causing the fall of the entire human race? Absolutely! James goes on to say that we should confess our sins to another and pray for healing. Sin is an absolute roadblock to our praying.
 Consider if you have sinned recently and try to pray for someone else. If you have not asked for forgiveness, you cannot pray as you ought. You might be feeling guilty or you may still feel as if you're walking the flesh rather than the spirit. Sin is a roadblock between us and God, but also between us and fellow believers. Also if someone else has sinned and you cannot/do not forgive them, it is also difficult for you to pray for that individual. How can you pray for someone whom you hold a sin-induced grudge over?
 Finally, consider unbelievers. How are we to pray for them when their sin isn't forgiven? When it looms over them as a death sentence waiting to be fulfilled. In I Timothy 2:1-4 we are told to pray for all leaders of men and that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth. We cannot pray for someone's physical healing until their sin is dealt with first.

If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained. John 20:23

 Forgive your brothers and sisters their sins and pray for them, and they will return forgiveness in kind. Do not let sin affect your prayer life, Lord knows it has affected your lives too much already.