Encouragement through Prayer

What I've been learning about Prayer recently, actually applies to my area of focus on "Encouraging Others" this year.   I came to this realization as I was thinking about something my Assistant Pastor said during prayer with the Worship Team before service yesterday.  He encouraged us to not just say that would be praying for someone when we learn of a need; but, that we would pray right there and then with them directly.   That would fit right in with my theme verse, for it would be encouragement through words, should be edifying, would apply to the need, and would give grace.

I've never considered myself to be a Prayer Warrior, and I know that this is an area that I feel I need to work on improving.  But, what I can see is that the same reasons that hinder my ability to encourage (i.e. lack of communication skills) also hinder my ability to express myself in prayer well.   Being aware of that, I can work on developing; and just this morning, I could tell that it made a difference.

I've also been seeing through our Acts study, how the Early Church leaders were people of prayer, and that it is one of the essential elements of a church.  I can see how my pastors at church have made even more of an effort to incorporate prayer; and I can see the effect.  And, I can see that prayer is powerful and effective.  Just yesterday, a couple in my class shared the praise of seeing God at work in their son's life, which is an answer to prayer.

The verse that my Assistant Pastor encouraged us to think upon and share with others is:
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (1 John 5:14)