Today’s Encouragement is Romans 15:30 “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.”
Strive together –
We have various approaches to prayer, and certainly, there are several valid ways. Jesus often withdrew to pray by himself. He also asked the disciples to pray with him. Paul often asked people to join him in prayer for specific things.
Here the believers in Rome are asked to strive together with Paul… in prayer.
Strive – intense focus, effort, intentional and heartfelt
Together with me – Pray the same prayer as I pray.
We all too often pray – today for this, tomorrow for that, with little to no consistency. The urgent needs of the day dominate, rather than praying for what is truly important, and lasting. Often, we fervently pray for some things, a lost loved one for example, for years… but alone…
Is it possible, as Paul seems to suggest here… that our Prayer can be more effective when we Strive, and when we are Together, praying along the same lines? This is not a ‘magic prayer formula’ at all! Different approaches to prayer can be effective. God hears all prayers. He is not evaluating our prayers for their ‘worth’. Yet, it seems from this scripture, that we gain by sharing prayer requests with other believers, and so striving… together…
Father God, help us to Strive Together in Prayer. Please show us what that means. We ask in Jesus’ Name.
On My Knees
By Nicole C Mullen
Today’s Encouragement 