During the “Five Days of Prayer,” we interviewed a number of missionaries whom we support via Zoom. It was cool to see the faces and hear the voices of missionaries thousands of miles away, like they were in the room with us. After they told us what they were doing and we asked various questions, we spent time praying for them as they were still connected to us via Zoom. It was an incredible time of feeling connected to them and as partners with them in Bolivia, West Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, and China.

Partnerships are great. I was a partner with my Dad on our dairy for a while. I am a partner with Patty, and we have accomplished a lot together. Those who are part of a church family are partners with each other. What is really amazing is that we are now partners with Jesus, doing His work in the world together.

Partnerships provide encouragement to each partner from the others, they provide an opportunity for rest while the other partners carry our load for a while, they provide creative thinking as ideas are shared, and best of all, the separation of responsibilities allows for each partner to focus on the part of the whole endeavor that he does best.

The Trinity is a partnership. We were created for partnerships with God and each other. One of the most potent things about partnerships is praying for each other. The emphasis in the New Testament is praying for each other rather than ourselves. When we do intercede for our partners, God works powerfully. Intercessory prayer is a very strong glue that holds partners close with beautiful unity, even when the partners are separated by many miles.

Praying as partners works supernaturally well in churches, marriages, and families. It is sad to see so many who neglect this amazing power. One of the rules of partnerships is that when we pray little for others, the others pray little for us. That is not a conscious thing, it is a result that God orchestrates.