How's life? How is your prayer life? Our blog has probably had more posts on the subject of prayer than any other subject. That's because I believe in prayer, I see the effects of prayer, and I keep asking you and others to make prayer a very important part of your Christian experience.
Now let me ask, "For what or whom do you pray the most?" It's ok if you say yourself. We all need to have regular conversations with God about our needs, our weaknesses, our family life, and everything else that pertains to our life situations.
Another question, "Does it matter to you when others say they are praying for you?" It's ok to answer that question in the affirmative, too. One of the greatest boosts you can give to another person is to let them know you are praying for them. It may be for some problem or difficulty in their lives, or maybe a major illness, or even just to let them know you remembered them to God the Father.
We are instructed to ask God for the things we need, and we are given instruction and encouragement to pray on behalf of others. Even when we do not know what to pray for or even how to express ourselves in prayer, Romans 8 tells us about this work of the Holy Spirit. "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."
There is one instance in the life of Jesus which should be a huge encouragement for us to be more diligent in prayer. During his earthly ministry, Jesus prayed for you. And he prayed for me. This came at a time when Jesus prayed for himself, then he prayed for his disciples. Following his prayer for these who had followed him during his ministry, look closely at the continuation of his prayer.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message."
If you are among those who believe in Jesus through the message proclaimed by his disciples, then Jesus was praying for you. And look what he prayed. He prayed for us to be one.
"that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
In Jesus' prayer for you and me, he was seeking the blessings of the Father that we could be united as one just as he and the Father are one. And he wants us to be one with he and the Father!
These are encouraging words from the Master as we pray for ourselves, and as we pray for others, that we may be one with each other, and one with the Son and the Father.
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