Will We Wish We Had Given Him More?

"After spending numerous times in prayer with a former associate in our ministry," wrote Dick Eastman in The Hour That Changes the World, "I was amazed to find that he prayed for every person on the World Literature Crusade headquarter's staff by name. He also prayed for each overseas leader associated with the ministry. Quietly and confidently, he would appeal for compassion, wisdom, and strength for each of the more than two hundred workers on his list.

"Then, with continuing confidence, he prayed for every major Christian leader who was even vaguely familiar to me. And there was more. He proceeded to intercede for every king, president, and political leader of the almost fifty Islamic and Communist nations. He did not pray for the leaders collectively, but for each separately, by name."

The apostle Paul often assured his fellow Christians of his prayers. Paul confidently lifted their names before God, fully trusting God to bless each of them. Samuel told the Israelites, "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23).

There is power in our prayers when we commit ourselves to regular praying in which we daily bring names to the Lord. Such praying is not just a recitation. It provides the Holy Spirit access to those hearts.

Could it be that someday we'll say, "But, Lord, if I had known You were going to answer all those prayers, I would have prayed more; I would have put more people on my list"? By that time we will have said farewell to the "sweet hour of prayer." How wonderful that we still have time to touch others with our love and prayers.

Thank You, Lord, for the high privilege of connecting others with You through prayer.
 
 "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers" (Ephesians 1:16).
"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers" (1 Thessalonians 1:2).