Help Through Prayer!

Daily Reading:  2 Corinthians 1

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1.11)

Devotional Thought: The church in Corinth was a troubled congregation.  They were divided in power and economics, fixated on sensationalism, and opposed to Paul’s apostolic leadership.  But Paul had confidence in them.  Why?  Because he had confidence in Christ!  Paul’s confidence in the Corinthian Christians was affirmed when he asked for their spiritual help through prayer.  

Paul, of course, believed that his ultimate help and strength was in God alone, but he also recognized that God’s delivery system included the prayers of the saints.  He was always out on the edge, taking great risks for God, so he counted on the prayer support of the congregations and Christians he knew.  Unlike many today who mock expressions of prayer support as meaningless, Paul knew just how important prayer was for one who was suffering.

As I read about the Corinthians helping Paul, I thought of the people that are helping me through their prayers: my family, my congregations, my readers, and my friends.  I thank God for those prayers.  Though nothing like Paul's work and writing, my work and writing demand the help of God's people.

But, I also thought about those people who are depending on the help of my prayers.  Am I helping them as I should?  Am I praying faithfully for them?  Are my prayers fervent?  I have so many good friends who are in great need.  I want to be a good friend to them by praying for them.  May God help me to help them by my prayers!

How about you?  Give thanks to God for those helping you by their prayers!  Commit yourself to pray for those who need the help of your prayers!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for those who help me by their prayers.  Help me to help others as I pray faithfully for them as well.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 113:1-3

1 Praise the LORD.Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD.

2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.