We Should Pray For Our Animal Companions

By Niki Behrikis Shanahan

Recently someone requested prayer for their animal companion. They said that some “Christian” or “Christians” they know do not believe in praying for pets. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, then someone comes along with a ridiculous idea like that.

It makes me wonder if these “Christians” are so insecure that they feel that God shouldn’t love, care, or help any other creature except humans. I think God is a big and loving God, and He can handle taking care of all His creatures.

You probably know about the verse in Proverbs 12:10 that says: “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” We are told to take care of the needs of our animal companions. When Jesus was speaking about the Sabbath day He said: “If you had just one sheep, and it fell into a well on the Sabbath, would you work to rescue it that day? Of course you would. Matthew 12:11

There are many scriptures that tell us that the Lord will help us, and give us what we pray for. In general, we are told to pray about everything. Philippians 4:6 says: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then Psalm 37:4 says, Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. I would say praying for our animal companions is in the category of praying for everything, and giving us the desires of our hearts.

We can ask God to take care of our animal companions and all the animals of the world just as freely as we can ask for ourselves. We are their caretakers, and can and should pray on their behalf.

Copyright 2018 Niki Behrikis Shanahan All rights reserved. Not to be used without author’s explicit written authorization. To reprint this article, please contact the author at eternalanimals@comcast.net.