March 05 2026

Thursday March 05

“Pray for Me”

Ephesians 6:19-20

After the Apostle Paul urges us in Ephesians 6:18 to pray “with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,” he continues in verses 19 and 20 with a very personal request: “And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,  for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” As we look at these two verses, Paul is now asking for prayer for himself. What’s striking is what he does not ask for. He does not ask for release from prison. He does not ask for comfort, healing, or even safety. Instead, he asks the church at Ephesus to pray that God would grant him boldness to speak the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We must remember that Ephesians is one of the four Prison Epistles. The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul is in prison in Rome when he writes these letters. To be a prisoner in Rome was no small matter. It was not a pleasant place. No doubt he was suffering greatly—experiencing hardship, pain, and difficulties we can scarcely imagine. Yet Paul does not say, “Oh, pray that I get out.” He says, “Pray that I have boldness. Pray that I have the grace of God to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ.”

In another Prison Epistle, Philippians 1:12–14, Paul writes: “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”  Paul is saying that his testimony in chains has encouraged others. The guards know he is imprisoned for Christ. Fellow believers have grown more confident. They are speaking the Word without fear because they see his faithfulness.

A few years ago, I read the book, “The Insanity of God” by Nik Ripken. In it, he recounts interviews with persecuted believers in places like China and Russia. Those suffering saints did not ask him to pray for relief from persecution, torture, or hardship. They asked him, “Pray that we will be faithful.” On one occasion, they even said, “Persecution is good for us. It purifies the church.” We are called to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ wherever we are.

Today, I am asking for special prayer for a dear friend of mine. Just this week, he was forcibly taken from his refugee work in a war-torn country and placed on the front lines of conflict. He is 55 years old—a precious friend, someone with whom I have shared mission trips and many meaningful times of ministry. This was not something he was prepared to face. Yet he is not asking for prayer for release. We have not heard from his family that he is saying, “Pray that I get out.” Instead, they are asking us to pray for grace and for wisdom. He would want us to, like Paul, to pray for boldness—to be a faithful witness wherever he finds himself right now.

Please, I’m asking you to pray for him. I cannot share his name or more details at this time, but please pray for my friend. He is in a special place of need, and he is asking for boldness to be a witness where he is. Of course, we can also pray that he will be brought home safely to his family who are here in America. Please do pray for him.

As we reflect on these passages of Scripture, we are reminded that prayer produces boldness. I thank God for the prayers that have been offered for me as a pastor, as a believer, and during mission trips. I can sense those prayers. They make a tremendous difference. Prayer overcomes distance. Prayer dispels fear. Prayer strengthens boldness.

My friend, we must also remember that our spiritual leaders are special targets of Satan. That is why we must pray for our missionaries, pray for our pastors, and pray for spiritual leaders across America. May God grant them grace to be faithful to the Lord for all they must face.

May the Lord bless you as you think on these things. And as Paul says—"pray for me”.

God bless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.