Today is…

a fantastic day to learn about using prayer for others.

“And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.”  Ephesians 6:19 NLT

As Christianity was developing, no one understood the power of prayer quite like Paul. He knew that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ gave us the ability to communicate with God and summon His awesome power to give us strength, courage, and wisdom.

While imprisoned in Rome, Paul sent a letter to the Church at Ephesus. It was a letter of encouragement, and at the end of the letter Paul reminds them to, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:18 NLT).

Then Paul did something truly remarkable.

He did something that should give us all pause as we try to imagine the circumstances he was in. Paul asked for the prayers of the members of the church of Ephesus, but he did not ask them to pray for his release, or any improvement to his personal circumstances.

Instead, he asked them to pray so that God would give him the right words to use to spread God’s message even in prison.

It is difficult for many of us to understand or appreciate the Christ-like selflessness of that humble request. It was a request for help, but it was a request to “help me to help others.”

Of all of the beauty that the Bible contains, this is truly one of its more beautiful moments. Of all of the lessons taught within its pages, this is certainly one we should all learn.

Prayer is a powerful tool provided to us by God, and while He wants to hear from us when we have personal problems that require His help, He wants to hear us call out to Him on behalf of others.

He wants us to pray for one another.

If we know someone who is sick, who is lost, who needs God in their lives – He wants to hear us call out to Him on their behalf. He also wants us to ask others for their prayers on our behalf when we are sick, or when we are facing tragedy or difficult times.

God wants us to use the power of prayer that the sacrifice of His only Son affords us. Don’t be afraid to pray or to ask others to pray for you. Remember Paul’s request and learn from that perfect example.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson