"Loving is the syntax of prayer. To be effective pray-ers, we need to be effective lovers."

~ Richard J. Foster, "Prayer"

Can I love someone without praying for her / him?

In the context of 'agape' love, praying is a key element of 'agape' loving, so when I 'agape' love someone, it implies that I am also praying for her / him.

Can I pray for someone without loving her / him?

My first thought is 'yes'; there are many occasions when I participated in prayer for someone I do not know. Also, am I not called to pray for my enemy?

However, on second thought, am I not called to love my neighbour? And this includes everyone. Plus my enemy, too.

Anyway, to love means to pray for the person I love. And to pray for someone effectively, I ought to love that someone. How often I forget that.

Dear God,
please help me remember
that loving and praying go together