In Behalf Of The Saints
Today I read the passage below and thought about all the praying I do in a day for myself and my loved ones. I often pray for people who ask, or those on our prayer list at church, or even strangers I pass and feel led to lift to the Lord. Sometimes the Lord brings people to my mind and I have no idea why. Yet, I feel burdened for them. I begin to pray for them and sometimes the Lord reveals how they needed His strength to deal with a certain situation. Sometimes they need comfort, or wisdom, or provision. Sometimes they are physically ill, or challenged by some personal crisis. It is an amazing thing to discover that what I asked the Lord to give them was exactly what they needed at the time.
I have no doubt that much of what I’ve been able to accomplish in life is a result of intercessory prayer warriors. People have come to my aid by petitioning the throne of grace and requesting extra measures of grace, comfort, provision and hope.
”Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).” Ephesians 6:18
I owe a lot to the saints of God. As a child, my parents never prayed for me. It was the Sunday School teachers, my Christian teachers in public school, leaders of missions groups in which I participated. I had Vacation Bible School teachers who prayed for me and asked God to build a hedge around my heart that the evil one could not pluck out the seeds they’d planted in my heart in those years of vulnerability.
Today I think of leaders everywhere who seek to teach the Word of God to children, to youth and even adults–those who love the Lord and are burdened to reach the lost and let them know of Jesus. I think of them and pray that their words prove worthy of our Savior and Lord. May the Spirit water and grow the seeds of Truth. May the saints of God not grow weary in their work. Let their love of You be the light that pierces the darkness in the world. May they pour out goodness, mercy and generosity in Your name. May each heart be filled with patience and kindness and peace. May their righteousness and faith point the way to the Savior and His everlasting life. May every saint’s love increase for Jesus and continue to grow in depth each day.
Will you join me in praying for the saints?
