The Blessing of “Prayers to Share” Cards

Several years ago while on a trip to Texas, I asked a friend to lunch I wanted to get to know better while there. She hesitated in going with me because she said she wasn’t doing too well and she didn’t want to be a downer. I encouraged her to go with me anyway and what happened that day rocked my world and sparked a passion that began our evangelistic journey.

Side Note: After praying for revival for over a year at this point my husband and I felt the desire to get outside the walls of the church and share the love of Jesus with the world but we didn't know quite how to go about it.

So what happened that day was this…

As my friend, April and I were catching up over lunch and she was sharing with me the really hard things she was going through, she would give these notes she called “joy cards” to the servers or passersby and bless them with her kindness and sweet smile. I was surprised that she even had the eyes to see others around her while amid so much pain in her own life. And then what amazed me was the responses she would get from people. I could visibly see their countenance change, and hers as well, right before my eyes.

Our little lunch ended up lasting into the early evening because we got into so many conversations with people and even while we were leaving people came up to her in the parking lot and thanked her and several told her that what was written on the card was just what they needed. Next thing we knew we were in the parking lot praying for people and having all these divine encounters.

I couldn’t wait to tell my husband about it when I got back to my room that night. We were both so encouraged. My husband went on Amazon that night and bought the “Prayers to Share” cards that April was sharing and he started sharing them before I even got back from my trip. This became our first evangelistic tool to spread the love of Jesus in our little corner of the world.

April’s Story is Featured in Dayspring Magazine

April has an amazing testimony about how she was led by the Holy Spirit to do this and has since then given out over 20,000 “Prayers to Share” cards (to date) since she started and she has activated over 50 people to do the same. Her story caught the attention of Dayspring and they ended up publishing an article about it in their Spring 2023 Everyday Faith magazine.

You can read the article here: https://www.dayspring.com/articles/scattering-joy

Learn more about Dayspring “Prayers to Share” card packs here: http://aprilbarr.net/favorite-prayers-to-share/

You can purchase them at Bible Book Stores, Hobby Lobby, Amazon, and direct from Dayspring.

Inside the cover of each pack of 100, there are examples of how you can share them.

Some of the ways we use “Prayers to Share” cards

1. Personal Outreach: I like to take out 5 “Prayers to Share” cards and pray over them and for the person who the Lord will direct me to give them to. I may write a little note and sign the bottom with my first name. Then I fold them in half, tuck them in my purse, and ask the Lord to give me eyes to see those around me as I am out and about.

What I say: I typically say something like, "I have a little word of encouragement for you today!  We all need a little encouragement now and then don't we?"  Depending on their response, I will either say "Have a blessed day!"  or I may engage in further conversation led by the Holy Spirit's guidance.  Many times it will lead to an opportunity to pray for them.

1. Delivery Blessings: If I have a delivery of groceries from Instacart or food from UberEats or GrubHub I will see the name of the delivery driver on my app and I will pick a Prayers to Share card for them, I will pray for them while they are on their way and I’ll write their name and a thank you on the card and tape it to my door.
2. On the Road Blessings: If I take an Uber somewhere, I will pray for the driver by name while I am waiting for them to arrive. Then I will try to have a conversation with them on the way. When I arrive at the destination I will give them a Prayers to Share card and bless them as I leave the car.

Testimony: I have had many divine connections with Uber drivers and have been able to pray for them.  A muslim man even started crying when I offered to pray for his daughters after he shared some of their struggles.

1. Digital Encouragement: I also take pictures of Prayers to Share cards and text them to people to encourage them and let them know I am thinking about them and praying for them.
2. Everyday Integration: I tuck Prayers to Share cards in with cards, letters, and bill payments as well.
3. Gratitude Packs: We tuck them in little lunch bags we leave out for delivery drivers filled with a snack and a water bottle to thank them.
4. Street Outreach: We also use these Prayers to Share cards when we are doing outreach on the streets. We have put information on the back to promote events like we did for the Franklin Graham crusade in Christchurch, New Zealand.

If you have your own creative ways of using “Prayers to Share” cards or similar tools, we’d love to hear about them in the comments section. Let’s inspire each other to spread hope and encouragement wherever we go!