We understand the importance of prayer, but how do we prioritize what we bring in conversation before God? Do we try to cram them all in our prayer time anyway, or do we go the other direction and ignore them? The short story called "The Star Thrower," by Loren Eiseley, illustrates a principle that can help us better pray for one another. "Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure...As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man...The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out 'Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?' "The young man paused, looked up and replied, 'Throwing starfish into the ocean.' 'I must ask then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?' asked the somewhat startled wise man. To this, the young man replied, 'The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die.' Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, 'But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!' "At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, 'It made a difference for that one.'" What if, instead of focusing on quantity or ignoring the overall need, we focused on the difference we can make for a specific individual? If there is a condition, a situation, a person that resonates with us on a more personal level, pray more earnestly for that one. There is simply no way we could ever do justice to all the prayer requests we hear, but we can make time to bring a quality prayer before God for a person in need. When I was young, there was a little boy in our local congregation who had contracted a life-threatening disease. Surgery was an option but it would have forever negatively changed the quality of his life. I prayed for the boy for weeks, not because he was a good friend or because I was told to, but because I knew what it meant to be a little boy and I couldn't imagine being in his position. I prayed for him because I wanted him to have what I had. That boy was healed and didn't need the surgery. I can't know whether it was my prayer specifically that resulted in God's intervention, but I know that it had an impact. The prayer of faith saves the sick (James 5:15). We can't lay down our life for everyone, but we can for a friend (John 15:13). Make quality time so that your prayers make a "difference for that one." UN