Praying fully for people
Most of us as Christians agree that we are to be a people who pray for one another. To do so is an expression loving God and of loving neighbor. Sometimes we think mostly of praying for those we know, but quite often we are requested to pray for those whom we don’t know personally. I’m thinking for this devotional to look at an example of the Apostle Paul’s prayers for people, an example to inspire our own prayers for God’s people everywhere, people both near and far away from us.
In Philippians chapter 1, the Apostle Paul is addressing people of the church in Philippi, in northern Greece, a church which always maintained a close contact with him and supported his ministry throughout the time of his missionary journeying. In verses 3 and 4, he thanks God for these friends and expresses how he lifts them up in regular prayers, remembering them always with Christian joy.
I want here to note that this is already somewhat different from our common concepts of praying for one another. Commonly, in our church fellowship and in our individual and family and social lives, our prayers for others so often are related to the troubles people are experiencing. People commonly ask for prayers when illness strikes, when they are going through a personal crisis, when they experience loss and grief, or when life brings them great stresses and strains. In noting a contrast here between the concerns we often pray for and the example of the prayers of the Apostle Paul, I am not intending to say that we should leave off praying for people who are experiencing troubles and worries and strains. Rather, the point is to say that Christians, in praying for others, need also to look at a wider and fuller range of prayer concerns. Our prayer lists in church, usually reminding us to pray for those who are ill, grieving or enduring troubling times, are very valid prayer concerns, but they are also incomplete. The Apostle Paul’s example shows a fuller picture of a Christian engaged in prayer for others.
First, I note the attention the apostle gives to being thankful for fellow Christians, intentionally giving himself to joy in them as people who share the life in Christ Jesus, and who are partnered with him as they share in the ministries of Christ through the church. Appreciation and thanksgiving are great things in the Christian life, contributing elements of growth and strength both to the people who express appreciation and to those who are appreciated. It may be helpful not only to share with others that we pray for them, but to let it be known that we give thanks to God for them as we pray. I recall a conversation once with a person who was disturbed because certain church friends were saying “We’re praying for you” every time she missed a church service, as though they thought she was about to slide back into ungodliness, and as though they supposed that only their prayers were keeping her in the faith. For her, I think it would have felt good and encouraging if some- one had just said, “I thank the Lord for you!” or “It’s a joy to work with you in the Lord!” Expressing appreciation may often be more positively influential in strengthening our brothers and sisters in Christ than if we speak to them in a corrective or admonishing tone, or if we speak as though we are a superior addressing an inferior.
I also note in Paul’s prayers for the Philippian Christians that he constantly has in mind the work which God has begun in them and how the Lord wishes to see that work through to fruitful completion. In this, we can consider two areas of work. First is the work of transformation in the heart and life of each Christian, a work which brings momentous impact to heart and life at conversion, and continues in a life of growth in response to the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit; i.e., a life of growing up in Christ. Second is the work of sharing the gospel and sharing Christ through one’s personal life and through serving in the life of the Lord’s Church.
Further, in Paul’s prayers we see a great focus on loving people, caring for people’s well-being in the highest sense. In verses 8 and 9, he speaks of constantly regarding people in the affection of Christ, with prayer that their own life of caring and love for others will abound more and more. In this light, it is troubling that in this time of year, as our elections approach, we see so much dirt-digging and mud-slinging toward candidates for public office.
Are these not people who should be prayed for, and acknowledged as people whom our Lord loves and cares about? How is it that people who profess to be Christian can be content to demonize people who may see things differently from themselves, and dig and dig to find scraps of information that can be used to ruin the other person? Do we really believe that our Lord hates our nation’s leaders? Rather than despising them and insinuating the direst of evils of them, should we not be praying for them, trusting that God has not given up on any of us, and has not given up on our nation, but is working to bring about better things in us and for us?
••• Editor’s note: Jerry Nichols, a native of Pea Ridge, is an award-winning columnist and a retired Methodist minister. He can be contacted by e-mail at joe369@centurytel.net, or call 621-1621.