We trust that He will yet deliver us; ye also helping together by prayer for us.
—2 Corinthians 1:10-11
[Some] preach Christ of contention…supposing to add affliction to my bonds…For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
—Philippians 1:16, 19
This subject calls us once again to think of all believers throughout the world, but leads us to view them from a different standpoint. If we ask God to increase the number and the power of those who do pray, we will be led to form some impression of the hope that our circle of intercessors may gradually increase in number and power.
Our first thoughts will naturally turn to the multitude of believers who know very little about the duty or the blessedness of pleading for the body of Christ, or for all the work that has to be done to perfect its members. We then have to remember how many people do intercede for the power of His Spirit but whose thoughts are chiefly limited to spheres of work with which they are acquainted or in which they are directly interested.
That leaves us with what is, comparatively speaking, a very limited number of people who will be ready to take part in the prayer that ought to be sent up by the whole church for the unity of the body and the power of the Spirit. And even then, the number may be small who really feel drawn to take part in this daily prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit on all God’s people.
And yet many may be feeling that the proposal meets a longfelt need, and that it is an unspeakable privilege, whether with few or many, to make Christ’s last prayer, “That they may be one” (John 17:11), the daily supplication of our faith and love. In time, believers might join together in small circles or throughout wider districts, helping to rouse those around them to take part in the great work of making prayer for all believers become one prayer prayed by all believers.
This message is sent out to all who desire to be in touch with it and who seek to prove their consecration to their Lord in the unceasing, daily supplication for the power of His love and Spirit to be revealed to all His people.