Who Among Us Can Say This?

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. [1 Thessalonians 1.2]

Who among us can say this?

Is there a person or group of people to whom we as individuals can truthfully make this same statement as did Paul for the Thessalonians?

Our scope of effective ministry as believers is limited to those for whom we pray constantly. In other words, we may minister to anyone at any time, however, our most effectual (or fruitful) ministry will be to those for whom we have first immersed in our constant prayer.

For the praying believer, this truth provides confidence in ministry. When God indisputably moves in the life of a person or group of persons for whom a person has been constantly praying, there is an experience of joy only made possible through the fulfillment of constant prayer. 

On the other hand, the non-habitual, sporadic pray-er will never know this joy. He or she might indeed superficially enjoy seeing God move in other's lives, but they will not have that deep prayer connection in and with God's movement in those lives. There is an enormous difference.

If Paul's statement above means anything, it certainly indicates that 'general' or 'non-specific' prayer will only result in 'general' or 'non-specific' connection with the results (if there are any distinguishable results).

Father, may we all increase our prayers for others in our lives to the status of "constant."