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More than ever I'm persuaded that God's work in my life is a direct answer to people's prayers.

When I was in high school, our pastor assigned a senior in our church to every kid in the student ministry. I was assigned to a woman named Evelyn White. All through high school I went over to her house and sat and had tea with her. Before I left she would say, "Oh James, let me pray for you." She would put her hand on my knee and she would ask God to use me. She would pray against sin in my life, for purity, a good attitude and perseverance. She called out to God for me! I had never heard anyone pray like that . . . and pray like that for me.

Evelyn is with the Lord now but the mark that her prayers made on my life has been indelible. I thank God for her ministry.

The life-lesson I learned from Evelyn is that we can persevere when we have friends who pray for us. Our unlikely friendship was bonded together by our commitment to support each other for the sake of Christ. Do you have people around you who would pray for you? Who could you lift before "the throne of grace, so that you might receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16)? Sometimes all we need to do is let the need be known and ask God to provide such a prayer partner.

This week on the broadcast we're continuing our study in 2 Timothy called, Finish-line Faith. We've been looking at how the faithful in God can persevere in the tough times. A big part of staying in the race is found in praying for others.

Paul had a friend like that in the young pastor Timothy. During a particularly difficult season of ministry the apostle wrote, " I thank God. . . as I remember you [Timothy] constantly in my prayers night and day " (2 Timothy 1:3). In ways we do not know, Timothy had helped Paul. Now Paul, knowing where the provision had really come from said, " I thank God ." Paul didn't say, "Hey Timothy, thanks for being such a great guy." No, he says, "I thank God for you"-God, who is the Provider of every good gift; God, the One in whom we can trust.

Paul then says, " I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day." Do you realize that people who might not even know you are praying for you? Before our church, Harvest Bible Chapel, ever began, we had hour-long prayer meetings several days a week. We got on our knees in the church office and called out to God. Do you know who we were praying for? You! "But you don't even know me." Maybe, but we were praying that God would allow us to reach you and impact your life.

In a major way, Walk in the Word's ministry has grown out of Harvest Bible Chapel. Years before we were ever on the radio, we were asking God to cultivate in our hearts an understanding of how to minister to you, to care for you, and to build in you the truth and faith found in God's Word. That habit hasn't changed. Every week, our staff prays for you. We pray for your marriages, for lost loved ones, for healing, for rebellious children-whatever needs you make known to us. We also have an army of people called, "Change Partners" who are standing with us in prayer and financial support. What are they giving to? They're supporting an eternal message that they know changes lives.

The Christian life is not a solo sport. I learned that decades ago drinking tea and praying with a senior citizen. I continue to live that truth out in life and ministry. God works in our lives as a direct answer to people's prayers. You pray for us and we'll pray for you. Keep on. Don't give up. Persevere in doing what is right-someone is praying for you.