October 15

Open Doors and Open Hearts 

Todays’ Scripture Readings: Psalm 116:1-6 | Jeremiah 26:1 – 27:22 | 2 Thessalonians 3:1 – 18 | Proverbs 25:16

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

“Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1 NIV).

What are your prayer priorities? Where do you spend your time in prayer? Many focus most of their prayer time on their shopping list of personal needs. If they do pray for others it is mostly prayer for physical and financial needs.

There is certainly a place for your personal petitions, and it is important to intercede for others in the body of Christ for healing and finances, but we must also be interceding for those who have not responded to the good news of Jesus Christ. That is the neglected but very important priority of prayer.

Paul’s prayer request, “Pray that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored,” is a reminder to us that an important focus of our prayers should be effective evangelism—for our pastors, for our churches, for our missionaries and especially for ourselves.

Pray for your co-workers, friends, neighbors and relatives to hear and honor the message of the Lord. Pray for those you know in ministry that their ministry efforts will be fruitful—that the message of the Lord will spread rapidly and be honored among those to whom they minister. Pray that God will open doors for you to share the love and message of Christ to those you know who need to hear it.

God wants to use you to share his message of good news. He wants to use your prayers. Prayer lays the foundation for effective sharing. Prayer opens doors and opens hearts.

Father, teach me to pray. Teach me to struggle in prayer for those who have not heard or responded in faith to the good news. I pray for open doors for the gospel as it is presented and preached today. I pray for open hearts ready to respond. May the message of the Lord spread rapidly and be honored. Amen.