“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17 ESV). In Col. 1:3–14, Paul tells the church in Colossae that he prays for them. In Phil. 4:6, Paul tells the church in Philippi to pray. The saints of the Old Testament prayed — for example in the great prayers of Nehemiah 9 and Daniel 9 and, of course, the entire book of Psalms. Jesus prays and taught His disciples to pray. “When you pray,” Jesus said to them, “say…,” and He taught them the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11). In Acts 2:42, we see the church gathering daily, and one aspect of their gathering is prayer. We, too, pray when we gather for worship.

Our houses are also places of prayer. We teach our children to pray. We pray before our meals and before bedtime. Here at Concordia Seminary, we pray daily as a community in chapel. Luther explains the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer, “God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.”

As we look forward to the new school year this month, I ask you to join me in prayer. Please pray for our Seminary, for our professors, staff and especially for our students and their families. Pray the Lord of the harvest provides workers for the harvest field. Pray that Christ would be glorified in all we do at Concordia Seminary. Pray without ceasing. Pray for one another. Pray with one another. Pray at home. Pray in church. Pray in your office.

As we pray in Jesus’ name, we pray with Him that the Lord’s will be done, trusting that with Christ Jesus, God promises to give all good things to His church (Rom. 8:32). What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

Thank you for your prayers.

In Christ’s love,

Thomas J. Egger
President