Blog 31 / Our High Calling
May 27, 2021
Is Anyone Praying For Them?
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. Col 1:9 NIV
A few years ago, on a trip to India, I took a photo of an old Indian man drinking water out of a spigot on a busy Bangalore street. So many captions could go with that image. I was looking at that photo recently and wondered if the old man was still alive, and if anyone in his lifetime had ever told him about Jesus or had prayed for him.
I must confess, I was busy trying to take a good photo at the time and didn’t think to pray for him. Since then, he became just one more image in my file of travel photos—and one more missed prayer opportunity.
It is sad to think of all the people in the world who have no one praying for them. The lives of multitudes of lost souls are governed by the rulers of this dark world; and they provide no peace for the people – only fear. The people have no one in their corner praying to the one true God, Who alone can give them everlasting peace.
I cannot begin to imagine a life where no one is praying for me. Having been surrounded by Christian family members and friends my whole life. I doubt a day has ever gone by when someone was not praying for me – for my wellbeing, safety, salvation, blessings, and so much more.
Yet how many people in the world have never had anyone utter a prayer for them? Think about all the people who have never heard the lovely name of Jesus, who are being buffeted by Satan. In many cases there is no one praying for their salvation and heavenly protection.
Closer to home, most of us are surrounded by neighbors, shopkeepers, coworkers, people we see at the doctor’s office, and Muslims or other immigrants in the community. There is a spiritual battle going on for the souls of people all around us. Chances are many are lonely, troubled, financially strapped, or depressed — and have no one praying for them.
Of course, there are many faithful prayer warriors who are praying for the lost. I just believe God wants more of us to be aware that many of the people we encounter each day might have no one praying for them, and that we would be the ones to take up this prayer burden. Some prayers might be occasional while others could develop into regular prayer commitments.
Either way, we may be the only person on the planet praying for some of them. And we know that while we are praying for them, God will be doing His work in them.
Colin Stott
GRN Global Prayer Coordinator
