Thursday, June 16th – Need Praying For

The gospels attest to Jesus’ habit of prayer. Having observed Jesus’ prayer life, the disciples were encouraged to ask him to teach them to pray more effectively. The book of Acts speaks often of the efficacy of the church as it was devoted to prayer. The epistles of Paul are laced with prayers and an encouragement to be constant and faithful in prayer.

Paul invites the Roman believers to join him in the struggle of prayer by praying for him and the effectiveness of his ministry. He does not merely ask that they remember him in a casual sort of way, but that they undertake their prayers as a struggle against every force that opposes the work of God. Paul makes his appeal in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit.

Much of what God desires to give his children comes in response to a life of prayer. Jesus told his disciples in the upper room: “Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

Prayer is the oxygen that fuels the Christian’s life and ministry. Yet it could be equally said that there are few areas of the Christian life with which believers are as dissatisfied as prayer. Most feel that they should pray more or could pray better. Even Jesus’ disciples felt that their prayer lives needed work.

Some Christians find it hard to ask others to pray for them. They are too embarrassed to expose their needs to others or hold back from making such requests because others have use prayer requests selfishly to focus attention their needs. Paul though realized the seriousness of ministry and situations and he focused his requests on spiritual and practical matters. He realized that prayer is a privilege and a responsibility. So he prayed for others and often asked others to pray for him. He attributed his success in ministry to God’s grace but knew that it was also affected by the prayers of others.

Apostle Paul was keenly aware of that fact. Facing possible opposition from unbelievers in Jerusalem, he asked the Christians at Rome to join in his struggle by praying that he would be rescued from them (Romans 15:30-31). Lord, may we not be too proud to ask for Your help by asking for help from Your children.