When those we love are suffering, we often feel helpless and wish we could do more to help. The good news is, we can help. We can pray.

Prayers for a suffering friend are an incredible gift of love. Illness and its accompanying exhaustion, mind-fogging medications, and weariness of soul can make it difficult for those who suffer to pray for themselves. What a great blessing it is to know that someone is praying for your needs when you are incapable of praying for yourself.

Those who suffer oftentimes can actually sense when others are praying for them. Just knowing that someone else is praying sends a powerful message of love, concern, and sacrifice. And best of all, when we pray for someone, we have lifted up their needs to the One who can best meet them and who can give us His peace in the process.

Dear God, fill me with a holy desire to pray earnestly and effectively for my friend. Help me to allow Your Holy Spirit to prepare my heart so I can hear Your gentle voice directing, guiding, and speaking to me on my friend's behalf. Give me discernment and wisdom to know my friend's true needs, those seen and unseen, spoken and unspoken. Help me in every moment to be mindful and sensitive toYour presence. I surrender my will, my thoughts, and my heart to You to be used now as I pray. Amen.