The Core Of The GospelSample

We pray for each other

“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers.”

Paul prays for the believers in Rome. Not only does Paul pray for them, he prays for them constantly, without ceasing. And not only does he pray for them constantly, but he tells them that he prays for them constantly. Paul must have known that these believers, whom he had never met, would be encouraged from the depths of their hearts, knowing that the Apostle Paul was regularly praying for them.

In the fall of 1972, I met John Lodwick, a fellow freshman at Rice University. Little did I know that John and I would become fast friends and room together for the next eight years, through college and graduate school. Sometime after meeting John, I began praying for him every day. Perhaps it was in the first weeks or months after meeting him—I no longer remember. But I began praying for him every day. I have done that now for more than forty years, and I will continue to pray for John for the rest of my years on this planet.

John is a close friend, and praying for him is the single most important thing I could do for my friend. Moreover, not only do I pray for John daily, but John prays for me. I know he does, and from time to time, he tells me that he prays for me daily. I already know it, but it is still good to hear afresh, “I’m praying for you daily.”

Just as Paul prayed continually for the Christians at Rome and told them he did, and just as John Lodwick prays continually for me and tells me he does, let’s pray continually for the people God puts in our hearts and tell them we are. They will be encouraged from the depths of their hearts.