from Julie Sanders:<\/p>\n
Sometimes we think we know how to pray for each other, but we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. Our family gathered for dinner one night, and Jeff began to pray. In his prayer, he prayed for the Lord to help me (Julie) have strength and feel better. HELLO?<\/span><\/p>\n When we lifted our heads, I had to try really hard not to blurt out something snarky. Apparently, I must\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve looked sick that night?!? Something made him think I felt bad physically (The dark circles? The yawning?), but that wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the case at all. I needed to make my real needs a little more known, and he needed to ask before he put a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quarantine\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sign around my neck and warmed up the chicken soup. While our prayerful intentions are good, our petitions may be misdirected and ineffective.<\/p>\n One of the best ways to pray with understanding is to ASK: How can I pray for you? In this case: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How can married women pray for single friends?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n I asked my single girlfriends that very question. After taking some time to talk about Single Things in February, I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s very appropriate to learn how to love our single friends through prayer. One of my single mom friends reminded me that singles are unmarried as parents for a variety of reasons like death of a spouse and divorce, which really makes a difference in how they long to be prayed for. You should ask the single friend who has come to your mind, but let me get you started with what my friends shared with me. These are THEIR thoughts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How to Pray for Your Single Friend<\/strong>
\nPray for her the same as you would any other women.
\nPray that the Holy Spirit would provide contentment for being single.
\nPray for protection; singleness makes women feel vulnerable.
\nPray that no life stage would take the place of finding true satisfaction in God.
\nPray that she would use her talents, abilities, and opportunities to serve God.
\nPray that she seeks God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s best before walking down the aisle.
\nPray that she won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t waste her life waiting on what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s next.
\nPray for friendships to fill some of her lonely gaps.
\nPray for her to have financial wisdom.
\nPray that she will use this single time wisely.
\nPray for her to remain pure in body and in mind.
\nPray for her to have patience and contentment.
\nPray that she will find her needs met and complete satisfaction in Christ.
\nPray for God to provide her a mate IF she seeks that, but support her no matter what.
\nPray that she will truly SEE God caring for her.
\nPray that if God wills for her to marry, she will wait patiently for the right man.
\nPray for friends to be iron sharpening iron for her.
\nPray for her, but also WITH her.
\nPray for her to be loved and accepted in her church.
\nPray for HER to work on being this kind of friend to others.<\/p>\n