“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favourably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.” (Romans 15:30-32)

Seven years ago, when I first started stepping out and praying for others, something happened at a meeting in Niagara Falls that made me do a double-take. Sulojana and I were ministering at one station along with a member of our church. A pastor friend was ministering with his ministry team at the other.

We still had one person waiting in line for ministry. There was no line-up in his.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him stand before his team and receive prayer ministry from them. It startled me a bit, because as pastors we were the ones who were always praying for others, including our ministry teams. We were the givers, not the receivers.

Perhaps there was some pride at work in me. I could see myself receiving prayer from one of my mentors, my spiritual father Steve Long or another pastor, but could not see our ministry team ministering to me.

Shortly thereafter, I came across several passages in the Epistles where the Apostle Paul asks members of the congregation for prayer. He did not even address this request to the pastors, elders, leaders or ministry team in private letters. He was humble enough to request prayer from everybody in epistles that were meant to be read when everyone was present.

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me…Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Ephesians 6:19-20)

“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message…Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” (Colossians 4:3-4)

“Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured…And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people.” (2 Thessalonians.3:1-2).

See what I mean?

Earlier this year, as we were preparing for our Maundy Thursday Service, I received a revelation jolt when I read how Jesus bared his soul to Peter, James and John: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38).

While Scripture does not state explicitly that Jesus asked them to pray FOR Him, He certainly asked them to pray WITH Him, to join Him in His struggle (as the apostle Paul would ask the Church in Rome to do). Wow!

Now it is easy for me to see that Glen Wells was modeling Jesus and the apostle Paul that day at St. James United Church in Niagara Falls. In the ensuing years, I have been privileged to see many anointed men and women of God from whom we receive prayer ministry humble themselves and ask for ministry for themselves at the end of the day.

You will be pleased to know that I have since repented and now earnestly seek ministry from anyone who is willing to offer it 🙂

Dear DWOD friend, as you advance further down the road to your destiny, no matter how exalted you are in power and influence, I pray that you will always be humble enough to ask for and receive ministry.