September 11, 2022

Romans 15: 30 (NIV)

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Go where your best prayers take you.*

Paul’s readers were probably relieved that he didn’t ask them to physically join him in his struggles. There probably weren’t many in the church at Rome who would sign up to take part in Paul’s adventures: beatings, shipwrecks, bandits, hunger and thirst, constantly on the move (II Corinthians 11: 23-27). All he asked was that they pray for him.

Do you know some intrepid missionaries who covet your prayers? Do you feel a bit cowardly because that’s all you are doing for them? Perhaps your conscience is eased somewhat by your financial support. I say it’s time that prayer got the credit it’s due. Prayer is the most we can do, not the least.

I dare you to join in someone’s struggles by praying for them. You might find your cowardice replaced by a call to join that missionary in the field. When your prayers accompany your money, miraculous things happen to it. When you let a person know you are praying for him, he is encouraged to know that he is not alone in his struggle.

Pray, and unleash the Holy Spirit’s power in the life of a brave servant who has gone where you wouldn’t dare . . . yet. Who knows what can happen when you start praying?

God has invested something of great significance in prayer. It is his way of bringing about change on earth, and at the same time, bringing his children to maturity.*