Our constant prayer for you is that our God will find you worthy of the invitation he sent to you, and that he may turn all your good intentions into actions, and powerfully help you to live the life that faith demands. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 - William Barclay's Translation Apostle Paul, who wrote those words, prayed constantly for others. Prayer for others is one of the most important works of love you can engage in. Prayer is God's gift to you of participation in His work in people's lives. Prayer is your opportunity to make an opening for God to begin and continue His work towards a person coming into the good future He has in mind for them. I remember in Indonesia a Christian brother praying for me. I realise now that this started something fresh in my life. Perhaps by God's Spirit he recognised I wasn't wholly where I should have been with the Lord. He didn't though try to sort me out instead he just prayed for me. Although there is a role for direct intervention in people's lives nevertheless, for the most part, prayer is how God wants us to help a loved one through to where they ought to be in Christ. I firmly believe that brother's prayer initiated a work of God in me that eventually moved me into the will and plan of God for my life. Prayer that seeks a move of God in others lives is the type of prayer for others that God is calling you to. Real change in people's lives needs to be by God's Spirit and our consistent prayer for them helps greatly in bringing this about. Pray for others! Give thanks to God for them! By it you'll escape the temptation of wanting to sort them out yourself. Instead you'll give God's Spirit every chance to work. 2Thes.2:13-14. Pray for a move of God in people's lives! copyright 2002 Simon Measures