Who Is Praying for Mike?
Mike’s sermon had been impressive. We admired this young man of our congregation who was showing such promise.
Occasionally I’d wonder, “Who is praying for Mike? He appears to be maturing spiritually, yet he doesn’t have a Christian home and praying parents. Whose prayers are supporting him?”
Then Mike began missing church. At first he blamed his 80-hours-a-week schedule and illness, but soon no excuses were made.
When I hear that Mike now says he is an atheist and has no interest in Christianity, my heart cries, “Why didn’t I intercede for him during his crucial, decision-making days?”
In his book Life Together, Deitrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.” If we don’t take seriously our responsibility to intercede for each other, we are likely to see cracks in our fellowship, corners breaking off that are difficult to restore.
The apostle Paul understood that prayer for each other is essential. Not only did he ask prayer for himself but also he wrote to the Christians he had nurtured that he constantly prayed for them.
Dear Jesus, help me to be aware of those who will drift away unless they have someone praying for them.
“We always pray for you” (II Thess. 1:11).
Today's Prayer Request
Pray especially for the Friday afternoon and evening services. Carolyn Johnson will be speaking and leading the healing service Friday afternoon, and Kim McLean will be sharing a testimony. Friday evening Linda Seaman will be the featured speaker, and Cheryl Roland will be giving a testimony.
