caring relationship with all people. It is in the context of their faith in and relationship with the true and living God that blessed St. Paul calls the Christians at Thessalonica to intercessory prayer.
Paul invited the Thessalonians to co-operate with his labours; this co-operation happens on the basis of intercessory prayers. It is a reminder to every Christian believer that intercessory prayer must be a constant or regular element in her/his life once he/she is seriously seeking to co-operate with God. This is a major challenge for all of us who call ourselves Christians. We must recognize and act on the fact that true Christian prayer is not about trying to manipulate God into making favourable things happen in our lives and relationships.
On the contrary, prayers, which are truly Christian, is essentially an acceptance of the fact that through our prayers we have the privilege of contributing to the “speeding on” and “triumph” of the Word of God. So as we in our regular intercessions pray for our world, our needs and those of others, we do well to keep before us the overall purpose of those prayers. We pray for health, safety and the overall well being of the world and those who inhabit it because these things would enable them to do God’s will with greater efficiency and effectiveness. As we offer our intercessory prayers, our overriding concern must be the nurturing of a living relationship with God; for it is through such a relationship in and with God that he empowers us to work for the speeding on and triumph of his Word, which contains his will and way. Let us today pledge to live by and practise this Pauline model of intercessory prayer. It captures the very heart and center of true Christian prayer.
Rev. Isaiah Phillip
Old Testament
