A Thankful Intercessor

Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, stating, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2). To Philemon, he said, “I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers” (Philemon 1:4). And again, to the church in Ephesus, he wrote, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15–16). Paul's gratitude and love for his fellow Christians was manifested in his prayer life.

There are various ways we express our gratitude, whether it is by helping someone in a time of need, giving gifts, or simply sharing a word of thanks. Sadly, there are times when a gesture of appreciation is not genuine but is motivated purely by pride or social obligation. Praying for others, however, is different. It is an unseen gift of gratitude. This is why private prayers can mean far more than public displays of appreciation.

I am not suggesting that we should only pray for people while neglecting the opportunity to help meet their financial or emotional needs. The apostle James warned against such a lack of action in our faith (James 2:14-17). Yet, the question remains: How often do we pray for our fellow believers? If statistics are correct, the answer is very little. Paul understood how significant it was to faithfully intercede for others. The help and kindness he received from the churches he established and ministered to were met with a heart of thanksgiving, expressed through strong and fervent prayers on their behalf. May we all learn to become thankful intercessors.