I always like to start with something personal, so please bear it with me!
Well, I’ve had lots of pets in my life since I was born. But, I got my very first pet –a cute dog that was a mix of GSD and something else and I called him Jude – when I was 13 years old. At first, I was not too thrilled about always having to take him for walks and clean up after him – sorry guys, I was not a dog aficionado at that time. But the relationship improved gradually and I loved walking him, feeding him and cleaning up after him. I confided in him, cried on his neck and sometimes slept and cuddled with him in my bed. He was no more a pet but more a family member. I fell madly in love with him and I couldn’t live without him.
However, one night while I was fast asleep, I had a dream, or rather a nightmare, about Jude. I could hear the vet saying that Jude had stomach cancer. Then, I saw blood spilling from Jude’s body. I ran immediately to him and tried covering that spot. Then, another spot popped up, spilling more and more blood. When I turned to the vet, he was no longer there. At that point, I was in full panic mode, not knowing what to do. I was afraid Jude was going to die. That’s when I woke up crying.
I still remember how I felt back then. I knew it was just a dream – I mean, a nightmare – yet my heart was aching for Jude. I wanted to run out and hug Jude, but the first thing I did –that came out of pure instinct- was to pray. I could have taken him to the vet on the next day and gotten him a check-up, but I felt as if my Christian faith was calling out to me and asking me to pray and trust the Lord.
The result? My dog never had any stomach issues (or any other health conditions) and he lived longer than the average dog.
Can Christians Pray for Their Pets?
When I shared this testimony with my friends (who are also believers), all of them asked the same question, “Are we allowed to pray for our pets?”
Honestly, I don’t know about the “allowed” part, but I certainly know that God said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
As I read this scripture, one thing that I’ve drawn from this is that Christians are called to trust God and to pray about everything.
So, when your pet is lost or sick, instead of worrying and relying on men, trust the Lord and ask Him to intervene and help you. And, remember that, “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7: 7-8).
And, even if the Bible does not specifically mention about praying for your pet, there is Biblical scripture that I want to share with you:
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
– From Proverbs 12:10
I found great comfort in this Bible verse. You see, the Bible does not talk much about caring for animals, but this verse gives an insight into how God expects His children to treat their animals. In fact, I can deduce that caring for animals thus includes praying for them.
