Informed Prayer Warriors and Thankfulness to God

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Paul did not want the Corinthian believers to be uninformed about the hardships he and his companions were facing. He wanted them to know about the suffering, pressure, and even the despair his crew was feeling so that they would pray for them. He knew that a reason for the hardships, pressure, and feelings was that it would turn their eyes to God. They had to rely on God, who raises the dead, rather than on themselves. This in itself brought glory to God because when men are most satisfied in Him, He is most glorified. They were able to give thanks to God for His deliverance and the believers who had been informed about the circumstances were also able to give thanks to the Lord for His gracious favor on them "in answer to the prayers of many."

This is a reminder to me that it is more than okay to share about my hardships, pressures, and feelings with other believers in order to ask for prayer. Sometimes I neglect to do so because I feel selfish or I do not want the focus to be on me. I need to remember, however, that it is not about me. It is about the prayers of many being lifted to the Father and about Him working and being Himself and then us having reason to give thanks to God.

James 5:16- "...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." If we really believe this, than why would we neglect asking the righteous people in our lives to pray for us and our circumstances?!?!