How can I pray for you today? (seriously)

Ricky Ketchum

Jun 13, 2026

Constantly Praying for You

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We thank God always for all of you as we mention you constantly in our prayers

1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NET)

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Yesterday I re-listened to 1 Thessalonians while on a walk.

Incidentally, if you’re not spending time listening to the Word, I’d encourage you to.

It’s a fantastic way to replace media with something of eternal value.

Anyway…

“First Thessalonians is Paul’s disciple-making handbook.”

So said one of my mentors to me some years ago.

I didn’t get it at the time.

In fact, even years later while that quote was still rolling around in my head, I missed it.

But today, I started understanding what he meant.

If you follow along with the things that Paul reports about how he treated his time with the Thessalonian church, you’ll see a broad system for raising up disciples.

It starts with prayer.

Constant prayer, filled with gratitude, for the people that God gave them to shepherd.

I’ve admitted several times in this newsletter that I’m a bit weaker on prayer than I am on things like studying the Word.

Obviously, since I’m not sending you a daily prayer newsletter but I am writing a daily Scripture newsletter.

But that’s all just an excuse.

If I want to have an impact on the lives that God chooses to let me help, then I must pray for them -- constantly.

I’m blessed to have family and mentors that have prayed (and still are praying) for me.

I should be that kind of blessing for others too.

So…

How can I pray for you today?

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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