Partners in Prayer

Every Tuesday morning, I walk my dog Rio and then head over to my friend’s apartment. We have had a standing appointment for about the past 18 years. Jean is my prayer partner.

Adoration, lament, thanksgiving, petition, deliverance, contrition, guidance – we’ve prayed all of these types of prayers. Through the years, I’ve come to lean more heavily on prayers of adoration and thanksgiving. Of course, that does not minimize the other prayer types in any way. We need them all at various times in our life.

My favorite verse from Philippians 6 sums up my prayer life: Don’t worry about anything. Prayer about everything. Ask God for your needs and don’t forget to thank Him.

God wants to hear about everything going on with us. Not only that, He wants details! The Bible says it. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives (Psalms 37:23). See? He delights in the details of our lives. Even though I can’t fathom the idea, I believe it. What a trivial thing I can provide to delight the Lord!

An Unlikely Prayer Partner

Almost two decades ago, a friend from church approached me to ask if I would mentor her and pray with her on a regular basis. I was surprised at her request in that she was 23 years my senior. I should have been asking her! At the time, I was working, but I agreed with the understanding that I would eat breakfast at her house. Jean gladly agreed. Twice a week, I drove to her lovely home early in the morning before work. She had a nice breakfast prepared for me. Sometimes it was a fried egg just the way I like it or oatmeal. Maybe it was a muffin or fruit. It didn’t matter. We chit-chatted while I ate, and then we got down to business.

Hundreds, no thousands, of prayers have been heard by the Lord sitting around Jean’s table or on her sofa. We’ve prayed for family members, health matters, loved ones in mourning, the church and its leaders, mission trips, my writing ministry, the persecuted church, and safety in travel. We’ve lifted up our country, our nation’s leaders, wars, human trafficking, sicknesses, and pets. God’s character, His various names, His blessings, His forgiveness, His presence, and power are also frequently mentioned.

For a while, we walked outside voicing our prayers when she lived in her subdivision. We prayed for restoration of relationships, times of confusion and misunderstanding, worldly matters, tearful encounters, spiritual highs/lows, and job difficulties. Nothing was off limits. Our times of sharing were and still remain confidential and sacred.

Jean moved out of her home into an independent senior living apartment years ago. I stopped having her prepare breakfast for me about a year after our initial meeting and simply drank or ate something in the car on the drive over. I decreased our visits to once a week when my work schedule got more involved.  

Jean and I often read Scripture or devotionals. We’ve shared opinions and stories of praise and concern. We have cried together and lifted each other up before the Lord. During the time we have met, my husband and I have changed churches, I became an organist, I had a heart attack, and my writing career began to take hold. Jean sold her house, minimized her driving, sadly lost her youngest son, watched her older son retire, said goodbye to her faithful canine companion, and transitioned her church activities. God has answered many, many of our prayers. We indeed pray about everything while offering a safe haven to one another without judgment. I especially love it when Jean prays for God to magnify my time.

As we both grow older, we realize our prayers are often about health matters. About a year-and-a-half ago, we started taking communion together. We thank God for the gift of His Son, who died on the cross. We also plead for healing through the act of communion. By His stripes we are healed.

God’s Grace and Provision

I am thankful for my friend and prayer partner, Jean Jordan. She has steadied my walk at times with the Lord and held me accountable. She has listened to my joys and regrets. Our faith has been enriched. We have a wonderful friendship, and God has certainly blessed it. I had few expectations when Jean and I first started praying together. Now we rely on one another for intercession, encouragement, and counsel. Who would have imagined that we would still be meeting to pray after all these years?