Verse By Verse Devotional On 2 Corinthians By Pastor Jack #17

Helping Through Prayer

1:11 "...you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many."

Isn’t it a wonderful privilege God has given us to be able to help His people all over the world through prayer? Isn’t it an amazing miracle that we can participate in the lives of believers far removed from us, assisting them, supporting them, contributing to their ministries and their lives through intercession?

We have so many good things to do. But the most effective method of doing good is prayer. Most of the time, it is not enough just to pray, of course, but all the activity in the world is not enough without prayer.

In our modern world it is easy to ignore the power and usefulness of prayer. From the way things appear, prayer seems to be a waste of time. However, there is more here than meets the eye. God tells us over and over again in Scripture that He is a God who listens to and answers prayer.

Prayer is the language of faith. When we truly believe God, prayer is our first recourse, not our last.

And we must never ever think we are doing God a favor when we pray. He is doing us a favor to allow us to pray. God is a holy God who cannot tolerate evil in His presence. It took an enormous price (His dear Son’s blood) to win for us the righteousness needed to have access to His presence. Through Christ the doors to the throne room of God have been flung wide open. But let those who enter not fail to appreciate what was required in order for those doors to be opened and Who it is who sits upon that throne.

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints." (Eph.6:18)

O Lord, there are few things my flesh less likes to do than to pray. Forgive me for how weak and mild and short and tame and skimpy and light and meager my prayers have been. Forgive me for all the good I could have done for my friends if only I had been a warrior in prayer. Forgive me for this lack of love for my brothers and sisters. Forgive me for this lack of faith in You. Forgive me for thinking that MY work is the important thing, not Yours. Lord, please teach me to pray.