In high school I was part of the church's youth program, and was grateful for (although not adequately) the adults who gave their time and energy to making this a time of spiritual growth and fellowship for us. Although he didn't talk a lot or rough around much, we appreciated Bill (name changed) because he was always available as a chaperone or to drive a car load of teens to an event.
About three years after graduation I bumped into Bill. We spent a few minutes catching up, him asking about college and then describing the people in the youth group and some of the fun ways they were growing together. Before we left, Bill asked if I had any prayer requests. He said that he still prays for me every Thursday, and liked to personalize these prayers for youth and previous youth.
I was dumbfounded by the seriousness with which Bill took this commitment to pray for the youth. When people say, "I will pray for you" I sometimes wonder whether they truly will; in contrast, Bill’s matter-of-fact statement that he prayed for me every Thursday was humbling. I had received unexpectedly a gift of grace—I was part of a covenant.
Bill taught me about praying for one another. A commitment to pray for another person isn’t an empty promise, but a covenant, and God is present in the promise, in the prayers, and in the transformations in my relationships with others when we commit to praying with and for one another.
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