The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 1:2,
"We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers."
Why did Paul continually mention these believers in his prayers? Was it because he had nothing else to do? Was it because it made him feel religious, as in "it is the religious thing to do"? Was it because somebody told him in Sunday School that all good Christians are supposed to pray? Why did he pray for these believers?
In three short words: they needed it. These believers needed praying for. Over and over in the Scriptures we are told to pray and to pray for one another. We all need to be taken before God in prayer. The conclusion cannot be escaped that if we do not pray for one another, some things are really not going to happen that would and should otherwise. Good things, important things, the avoidance of bad things may not ever take place if we do not call out to God and ask him.
Later in this letter we are told, "pray continually", 5:17. This is an important theme that is found throughout the Scripture. Jesus told us, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22. Luke tell us Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow "to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1. Within the four gospels we read of many accounts of Jesus himself praying to the Father. His wonderful prayer for us is found in John 17.
We are told the early church joined together "constantly in prayer". Acts 1:14; 2:42. We are asked to be faithful in prayer, Romans 12:12. Paul said he would be helped by the prayers of the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 1:11. Paul prayed for the believers in many of the churches we know of: the Romans, the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians, the Thessalonians. He prayed for Philemon, verse 4.
Paul said, "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18.
Is prayer important? Anyone who believes what the Bible has to say knows prayer is vital, necessary and expected of us. We all need to be prayed for and we all need to be praying for one another. If Luke 18:1-8, the parable of the persistent widow, is to be believed, then we must be assured that without prayer some good things from God are simply not going to happen. Is that important?
If you are not praying, you are leaving the rest of us in a vulnerable and unsupported position. Over the years I have not been faithful in prayer myself, but have found since, that I can scarcely call Jesus "my Lord" if I neglect what he asks of me. If you have not been faithful in prayer, right now, this minute, is the time to respond to the One you call "Lord" and bring your concerns before him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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