SURROUNDED BY PRAYER

SURROUNDED BY PRAYER

READ:
Romans 15:22-33

My friend Melissa's 9-year-old daughter Sydnic was in the hospital for chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant when I had a dream about her.  I dreamed she was staying in a central room at the hospital with her parents.  Surrounding her room was a block of other rooms where family and friends were staying and continually praying for her during her times of treatment.

In real life, Sydnie wasn't physically surrounded by family and friends in adjacent rooms.  But spiritually speaking, she was and is surrounded by prayer and love.

The apostle Paul seemed to have a desire to be surrounded by prayer.  In most of his letters to churches, he requested to be remembered in prayer to the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4; Philemon 1:22).  To the believers in Rome, he wrote, "Now I beg you, brethren,...that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me" (Romans 15:30).  He knew that he could not be effective in his service for God without His power.

The Bible tells us that Jesus also prays for us (John 17:20; Hebrew 7:25), as does the Holy Spirit, whose prayers are according to the will of God (Romans 8:27).  What a comfort to be surrounded by prayer! -Anne Cetas

We give to those we hold most dear
No greater help and care
Than when we give them to the Lord,
Surrounding them with prayer. -D. De Haan
****************************************
Prayer prompted by the Holy Spirit is powerful.

INSIGHT
Spiritual leader that he was, the apostle Paul was dependent on, and not ashamed to solicit, the prayers of others.  He did so on at least eight occasions-Romans 15:30; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 1:19; Colossians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:1; Philemon 1:22.

Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always.
Unity & Peace