PRAYERS FOR STRANGERS

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers…  Romans 1:9

            Something amazing happens when we pour ourselves out daily at the feet of Christ.  We press our heart to the surface, offer it to Him without any reservations, and ask Jesus to live large in us.  At that point, His Spirit rises up strong in our spirits and we are in touch with His thoughts and affections.  What He loves, we love.  There is no other explanation for the complete reformation of our heart’s desires.

            This phenomenon has to be the reason for Paul’s words.  He has never been to Rome to meet the Christians there.  Yet, in spite of the fact that they are strangers to him, he admits to praying without ceasing for them.  Who prays non-stop for strangers?  I don’t.  Family, friends, maybe.  But strangers?  I only do it if the power of Christ has taken over my heart and His burden for someone has become mine. 

            Can you imagine how long Paul’s prayer list was?  He had to be invested in so many churches, so many that he had started.  Rome wasn’t the only place on his mind yet he admits to offering up continual prayers for them. 

            If ever I needed just one verse that confirm that Paul’s spiritual work in the kingdom was fueled by the Spirit and not the frenzy of a type-A personality, this verse does it for me.  So much ministry work is carried on by gifted people who can make things happen without being led by God’s Spirit.  Entrepreneurs know how to start things and grow them.  Men and women with charisma are clever with words and can easily create a following.  Is any of their work God’s work?  Let enough resistance come, enough personal suffering, and the wheat will be separated from the chaff. The cost will become too high and the ministries will fold. 

            Not so with Paul – which makes his letter to the Romans that much more valuable to me.  He was the real deal.  He suffered and yet his passion for seeing Christ embraced by the nations was not snuffed out.  He prayed without ceasing whether in prison or out, whether hungry or fed, whether cold or warm, whether bone-weary or rested.  May God’s prayer list become mine today as I allow my heart to fuse with His heart.  Praying for strangers will be inevitable.

Who are You concerned about today, Lord?  What person or nation?  Make me one with You so that I feel what You feel. Make unceasing prayer my reality regardless of personal cares. Amen