19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
I think we all get impatient at times. Even in prayer we can get impatient. We want the answer now rather than later, sooner rather than delayed. We want a ‘yes’ rather than a ‘no’ or a ‘wait’, or even more painful a ‘silence.’ Notice the way the author of Hebrews states his case as he closes the book. He particularly urges pray on his behalf. This is not a request for just a general prayer for him. The author wants something specific from God and asks the readers to ask God for it. He uses a word that means he wants them to pray at a much greater degree than they are currently praying. He wants them to ‘ramp up’ their prayer intensity. Paul used this word to describe how dedicated he was to the keeping of the Jewish traditions before his conversion. The author here wants his readers to offer prayer on steroids. If the author is asking them to pray for this, the author must have the expectation that God does answer prayer, that prayers make a difference, that our prayers intersect with the will of God, that our prayers are part of God’s plan, that He chooses to use our prayers to accomplish His will. He also must understand that prayer on steroids is what it is going to take in his case. But the author also places a timetable on the request; he wants it soon. Notice he doesn’t say, “By noon on Saturday.” He is not demanding that God meet his timetable. He is not trying to force God in a box of his own making. But he is expressing his earnest desire that it be sooner rather than later. And if the author is able to request these kinds of urgent, time-sensitive issues, then we can as well. We can’t demand God be involved, but we can earnestly request His timely involvement. Pray today. Offer prayer on steroids when needed. Ask for timely involvement.