1 Thessalonians 5:25, “Brethren, pray for us.”

1 Kings 13:6, “And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.”

Hebrews 13:18, “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”

James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

It is true that all we who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior all serve the same living God.  We read the words of the Lord in Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”  From this we learn that there is only one God, and there is not another one.  1 Timothy 4:10 says, “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”  From this we learn that God is a living God. 

Yet, we are encouraged and instructed to pray for one another.  The Lord wants us to be concerned about each other enough so that we are constantly praying for one another.  It was the Apostle Paul who wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:25, “Brethren, pray for us.”  This mighty man of God realized his own dependence upon the prayers of others, so he asked others to pray for him. 

Philippians 4:6 instructs us, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”  Certainly, for the believer, our requests to the Lord would involve the needs of those around us. 

We have the touching incident where the Lord Jesus told Peter of how Satan desired to tempt him.  He tells Peter, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32).  The Lord Jesus tenderly prayed for Peter’s restoration even before he had fallen.  Shortly before His crucifixion, the Lord said to His disciples, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” (John 14:16).  Again, in this incident, we find the Lord praying for His disciples.  Should we not follow His example and pray for one another? 

We read of how the Apostle Paul prayed for others in Philippians 1:3-4, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.”

Prayer for others can be a ministry as we read in Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” 

Let us pray for others and ask others to pray for us as well.  The Lord is so pleased when we pray for one another.  (451.2)