The Purple Shawl 紫色披巾
Dexu Xia
I urge you . . . to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30
While serving as my mom’s live-in caregiver at a cancer center hundreds of miles away from my home, I asked people to pray for us. As the months passed, isolation and loneliness sapped my strength. How could I care for my mom if I gave in to my physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion?
One day, a friend sent me an unexpected care package. Jodi had crocheted a purple prayer shawl, a warm reminder that we had people praying for us daily. Whenever I wrapped the soft yarn around my shoulders, I felt God hugging me with the prayers of His people. Years later, He still uses that purple shawl to comfort me and strengthen my resolve.
The apostle Paul affirmed the importance and spirit-refreshing power of praying for others. Through his passionate request for prayerful support and encouragement during his travels, Paul demonstrated how those who pray for others become partners in ministry (Romans 15:30). Offering specific requests, the apostle not only showed his dependence on the support of fellow believers but his trust that God powerfully answers prayer (vv. 31–33).
We’ll all experience days when we feel alone. But Paul shows us how to ask for prayer as we pray for others. When we’re wrapped in the intercessory prayers of God’s people, we can experience God’s strength and comfort no matter where life takes us.
Who has God used to encourage you through intercessory prayer? Who can you pray for today?
Loving God, thank You for the gift of intercessory prayers and for assuring me that You hear me and care for me wherever I go.
我⋯⋯劝你们与我一同竭力，为我祈求上帝。—罗马书15章30节
在离家数百里之外的癌症中心陪侍母亲时，我请主内朋友为我们祷告。几个月过去了，孤独与寂寞消磨我的精神和体力。我实在不知道，在身心灵俱疲的情况下，我要如何继续照顾母亲？
一天，我朋友裘蒂寄来了一份表达关心的包裹，让我感到十分意外。她亲手织了一条紫色的祷告披巾，温馨地提醒我，每天都有人为我们祷告。当我将这条柔软的披巾披在肩上，就觉得上帝正以祂儿女的祷告拥抱我。多年之后，上帝依然使用这条紫色披肩来安慰我，坚定我的意志。
使徒保罗也表示，为人代祷不只重要且能使人得着激励。保罗在旅行布道期间，恳切地要信徒们以祷告来支持鼓励他，并表示这些代祷者是他的服事伙伴（罗马书15章30节）。这位使徒提出具体的代祷事项，表明他不仅需要众信徒的支持，而且也坚信上帝会以大能回应众人的祷告（31-33节）。
我们都有感到孤单寂寞的时候，然而保罗教导我们在为别人祷告时，也能请别人代祷。当上帝儿女的代祷围绕我们时，无论我们处在任何景况中，都能经历上帝的大能与安慰。
上帝曾藉着谁的代祷让你得到激励？
你今天可以为谁祷告呢？
慈爱的上帝，感谢祢让我们能彼此代祷，且向我保证，无论我往何处去，祢都会看顾我并倾听我的心声。