Philosophy
Is it Okay to have Someone Pray in my Place?
Often times people are concerned whether they are taking a short-cut if they ask another to do the prayer work for them. This question shows a great sense of respect for what prayer really is - a personal exercise in self-reflection. Wailing Wall Prayer not only helps you compose the prayer that is most tailored to your situation, but we send it to you and encourage you to pray along with your prayer messenger - everyday of his/her 40-day pilgrimage for you! This helps you to stay focused, remain positive and remember to pray for yourself! We also recommend good deeds for you to do in conjunction with the 40 days of prayer. This is a powerful method to open up channels of blessings for you - the person who should ultimately benefit from the prayer experience. We add strength to your prayers - we do not replace them!
A pious person was once asked why one should come to them for a blessing. After all, if the Almighty bestows suffering on individuals in order for them to turn to Him and become better human beings, then why should one ask a pious person to help take it away? Isn't that against the point of the suffering - personal growth?
The pious person answered that just as the Creator sometimes sends messengers to deliver the suffering, He also sends messengers to lessen the suffering. There are no coincidences; the specific pain was sent for a reason, and it is taken away at the right time. The messenger is just the vehicle. The Wailing Wall Prayer 40-day prayer messenger is just an added spiritual resource that the Almighty gave you to arouse His mercy and help you along your way to self-perfection, happiness and fulfillment.
Since we cannot play God, we offer no guarantees. However, with heart-felt prayers, good intentions and commitment, we do our best!
Some examples of intercessory prayer from the Bible:
In the story of Abraham and Abimelech, God comes to Abimelech in a dream to tell him that Sarah is Abraham’s wife and that he should not touch her. In addition, God tells Abimelech that when he gives Sarah back to Abraham, he will pray for him.
"Now therefore, restore the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours."
(Gen 20:7)
In several places the Prophet Samuel is asked by the Children of Israel, or he himself offers to pray for them.
Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the Lord for you." (1Sa 7:5) Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines." (1Sa 7:8)
In 1 Kings chapter 13, we see the story of Jeroboam’s encounter with a prophet wherein he asks that the prophet pray for him:
The king said to the man of God, "Please entreat the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me." So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's hand was restored to him, and it became as it was before. (1Ki 13:6)
In the book of Ezra, King Cyrus issued a decree for some of the Children of Israel to return to Jerusalem (from Babylon) to rebuild the city and the Temple. One of the reasons he gave for this was that they should pray for him there.
"Whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem request, it is to be given to them daily without fail, that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. (Ezr 6:9-10)
In the book of Jeremiah, we see the King, Zedekiah asking Jeremiah to pray for him.
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray to the Lord our God on our behalf." (Jer 37:3)
In addition to the above passages which show us examples of people who requested that someone else pray on their behalf, there are also dozens of examples of those who did pray on the behalf of others. Intercessory prayer is not a new concept – it has existed from the time of Abraham, who interceded with God on behalf of the city of Sodom.
When you embark on your Forty-day Prayer Journey, you join the ranks of thousands of people who have gone before you going back thousands of years. Not only are you not alone – you’re in good company!
