REFLECTIONS
September 5, 2010
 
 
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:19-20
 
 
Requested Prayers
 
If the email was not unexpected, certainly its content was. It read in part, “I did pray for you this morning as I know our family and our business concern you deeply (beyond just business). May God give you courage and wisdom as you continue your work with each of us.”
My heart was moved that someone would think to pray for me. I had not thought to request them. We should always remember to pray for those in need of it; but maybe we should not be reluctant to ask for prayer either.Paul wasn’t.
Paul had found himself in prison—again. He was confined to a small space unable to reach out to people. He was accustomed to freely moving about teaching the gospel, changing lives. Within the confines of four dreary walls his ministry had been reduced to letter writing. So there he sat, cramped in a jail cell, unrelieved from the constant pain of an unhealing injury to his body; and doubtlessly suffering the discomforts of a prison cell—pungent air, unclean floors, poor lighting, and uncomfortable temperatures.
Paul had every reason to request prayers for liberation from the physical pain he endured. He might have requested prayers for clean air to breathe, or for relief from excessive heat or bitter cold. Paul might have requested prayers for freedom from the chains that bound him. But he asked for none of those things.
Paul’s prayer request reached beyond relief from the miseries he endured or the circumstances he faced. He requested prayers that his life would reflect the Savior.
Today I feel blessed that someone paused to say a prayer for me. And I ask that you pray for me too. Pray that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador; pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. And pray that wherever I am and whatever I do, my life will beam the light of the Savior on those around me.
Today, that is the prayer I pray for you.
 
“You are the light of the world.”
Richard Ì
 

www.reflectingthesavior.org.


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