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How much do we know about the condition of fellow saints? How often do we specifically pray for them? How often do we follow-up with a praise report?
In today’s Scripture, we read about Paul making provision about disclosing his condition through Tychicus. We read about Paul asking for specific prayer that “I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak“. Like Paul, we should disclose our condition to trusted Christians and request specific prayer from them.
A friend and I meet about once a week to read Scripture and pray. We pick a book of the Bible and then read a chapter a meeting with each of us reading out loud half of the chapter. We then share specific prayer requests. He prays for my prayer requests, and I pray for his prayer requests. Often, our specific prayer requests are for ourselves or members of our family, but sometimes our prayer requests are for other individuals. It is a good practice that we have developed and done for about 14 years.
My purpose in disclosing this practice is not to infer that it is the best practice nor that we never miss a week of doing it. But rather, my hope is to provide one example of what can be done to stimulate thoughts as to what could be done to pray more faithfully and more effectively. It is my hope that the reader both disclose to trusted Christian friends his or her own condition and their own specific request for prayer and that the reader learn about the conditions of other Christian friends and their specific prayer requests so that the reader can pray for others more faithfully and effectively.
As another example, one of my friends has developed a prayer project for a wide community of friends and uses emails and a web site to inform others of specific prayer needs of individuals within that community and to request prayer for them from the group. Obviously, these prayer requests are less intimate (specifically disclosing less to avoid personal embarassment), but the prayer requests reach many more people and address more general prayer concerns.
So, whatever practice you use, “be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints”.
And, give praise reports! Don’t only request prayers; inform others how God has answered the prayers! “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Notice how “pray without ceasing” is sandwiched between “Rejoice always” and “in everything give thanks“. We should give thanks and praise God for answered prayers!
Prayer, with both prayer requests and praise reports, is a way of showing “love with faith” which is mentioned in the concluding paragraph of today’s Scripture. Prayer shows others that you care about them and love them. Prayer shows faith that you believe God will answer your prayers and help them. Praise reports develop faith that God will answer prayers. “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Verse 23. “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:10
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 