In his book Victorious Christians You Should Know, Warren Wiersbe tells of the letter Andrew Bonar wrote to his brother during the Kilsyth Revival of 1839-40. Bonar lamented that there had not yet been significant change among the people, “…and I believe I am to blame. I work more than I pray.” Later he would add in his journal, “I was living very grossly, namely, laboring night and day in visiting with very little prayerfulness. I did not see that prayer should be the main business of every day.”
Prayer should be the main business of every day. Fellowship with God is a central work of every man. And intercession for others before God is one of the great works of every believer.
It is not insignificant that so many of Paul’s prayers on behalf of others are recorded in Scripture (Rom. 1:8ff; 1 Cor. 1:4ff; 2 Cor. 13:7; Eph. 1:15-23; Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:9-12; 1 Thess. 1:2-3; 2 Thess. 1:11-12; Philemon 4-6; and these do not even account for his numerous benedictions). These became not only an encouragement to those whom Paul wrote, but also instruction for later generations of believers on how to pray for others.
Yet these are not the only listed prayers in Scripture —
- Job prayed for his friends (Job 42:10)
- Moses prayed for Aaron (Dt. 9:20) and Miriam (Num. 12:13)
- Samuel prayed for Israel (1 Sam. 7:5, 9)
- David prayed for Israel (2 Sam. 24:17) and Solomon (1 Chron. 29:18-19)
- Hezekiah prayed for Judah (2 Kings 19:14-19)
- Isaiah prayed for the people of God (Is. 63:15 – 64:12
- Daniel prayed for Israel (Dan. 9:3-19)
- Ezekiel prayed for Israel (Ezk. 9:8)
- Nehemiah prayed for Judah (Neh. 1:4-11)
- Jesus prayed for the disciples (Jn. 17:9-24)
- The Jerusalem church prayed for Peter’s release from prison (Acts 12:5)
- Epaphras prayed for the Colossians (Col. 4:12)
These prayers and more combine to offer encouragement to pray and instruction in how to pray — reinforcing the truth that in prayer we demonstrate our dependence on God and our delight in His provision, no matter what He gives.
Words of Grace 