A couple of months ago, a friend was anticipating major surgery. It was a rather new procedure that, if successful, would significantly improve his quality of life. But if not successful, well, let’s not go there. My friend had tons of hope. However, he also admitted very honestly that he had a good deal of fear. But he dealt with it in a wonderful way, I think. He asked for prayer.

This was not just ordinary, casual, “Will you pray for me as the Lord brings me to mind?” kind of prayer, though. He let his friends know that he very much appreciated having personal, written prayers sent to him before the surgery. That way the words of our prayers could encourage his heart and his faith as he waited.

I love that idea. Often when people ask me for prayer, I say, “Sure, I’ll pray for you.” And I do. But my friends don’t usually get to hear the prayers I pray. Plus, when I pray for people on my own, I don’t always put the thought into it that I put into a crafted prayer that I actually write down.

When I wrote my prayer for my friend, I asked the Lord what to pray. I listened to His reply. I sought Scriptures that supported the things He led me to pray. The resulting written prayer included phrases and ideas from God’s Word that I hoped would encourage and comfort my friend, as well as strengthen his faith.

And, the written prayer, sent weeks ahead of time, could be read and prayed many times in the days leading up to the surgery day. He could pray it, and I could pray it. Somehow, the discipline of writing that crafted prayer seemed to place my friend more firmly in my heart. I remembered to pray for him more often, and with more faith.

I probably won’t be writing out prayers for every person who asks me to pray for him or her. But for loved ones experiencing the high levels of hope and fear that anticipated surgery typically prompts, I think it’s a wonderful idea. It’s exactly what I would want—and need—if I were in that situation.

Cynthia Hyle Bezek is the former editor of Pray! magazine. She currently serves as editorial director for Community Bible Study and also writes a weekly blog about prayer, Let’s Talk, at prayerconnect.net/blogs/lets-talk.