Of the many phrases that ministers use, one that might be the most common might be "I will pray for you."
It has become aware to me that that phrase may be misunderstood by people.
When I say "I will pray for you", I do not mean I will not just add you to a laundry list of people or situations. I will not just pray "for you" as one might ask God to provide you something as just one of many voices that will also ask, and thus operate like nagging children to a parent. I will not just pray for you as a way of thinking of you for a moment.
I will not pray for you so that you do not have to pray.
Rather, when I say I will pray for you I mean that in light of your situation, you may not be able to pray for yourself. You may be in a situation that is difficult or troubling that results in your inability to pray. Perhaps you are so overjoyed in life that you are unable to focus on praying for the least, last and lost of the world. Perhaps you are so down that you cannot pray for new life, new creation and resurrection.
It is in these situations that I will pray for you.
I will pray for you when you cannot pray for yourself.
This ought to be part of the reason why we go to worship on Sunday regardless of your state of mind.
Perhaps you cannot pray that day - the community of the Body of Christ will pray for you.
Perhaps you cannot sing that day - the community of the Body of Christ will sing for you.
Perhaps you cannot listen that day - the community of the Body of Christ will listen for you.
Perhaps you cannot lament that day - the community of the Body of Christ will lament for you.
I will pray for you when you cannot pray yourself, because we are the Body of Christ. We are the Church.
I know that there are days for which I cannot pray, sing, listen or lament...
and I know the Body of Christ will do that for me.