It used to be that two armies would line up, face to face, then they would plunge into combat, and the best army would win. It was simpler then. Today the military has gone high-tech, and it isn't necessarily the fellas with the best army who win, it's the one with the best air-force. It happened in World War II, it happened in certain Vietnam engagements, and it happened dramatically in the Persian Gulf War. The Air Forces went in, they immobilized Iraq's capacity to respond, and then they kind of softened up the opposing forces, and there was an air war before anybody moved on the ground. And then once the troops started to move, the planes provided that vital air cover for their operations. Saddam Hussein had a big army, but he lost because his air cover just didn't function.
In Colossians 4:2. The great missionary Paul, says, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving...praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in bonds ...That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak."
Here's one of the greatest missionary of all time, and he is virtually begging for members of the church to pray for him because he is bonded to preach the gospel. "Please pray for us!" And he gives some specific requests; pray for open doors; pray for clarity as we present it.
In another passage, Romans 15:30-32, writing to another group of believers he makes a similar appeal, "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in [your] prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which [I have] for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed." Again he gives specific requests. There's a message coming through loud and clear. In the writings of the Apostle Paul, he says to the people who care about his ministry, "I'm counting on you, do you know that? And I feel really close to the people I'm counting on. Please pray for me."
It is hard to imagine that our simple prayers could make a difference in somebody else’s life. Yet we often hear the words of our modern day prophets and apostles saying, "We are comforted by your prayers." In a recent general conference of the church, President Hinkley reaffirmed the admonition of Paul when he stated, "Thank you for your prayers, your trust, your confidence. I am deeply grateful for all who have generously assisted in helping us do our duty." (October 5th, 1997) It is clear that the Lord indeed blesses those who we pray for. And it is clear that those we pray for appreciate those prayers.
Somewhere today there is a missionary, a Bishop, a primary teacher, someone whose is counting on you. On your prayer support. Faithful prayer support, fervent prayer support, specific prayer support. It's like that air cover in battle, prayer is our "air cover." It's what God uses to immobilize the enemy.
As you pray, you are tying the hands of the enemy and fighting his efforts to bring discouragement, to stop the resources from getting through, from attacking. And you can bet, if that person's making a difference for the Lord, they're under attack. Your prayers make a difference! And like that air cover, you're softening up the opposition and tearing down strongholds so it's easier for the Gospel to be move across the entire earth. You're helping the advance of the ground troops with your "air cover."
When Joshua was leading the troops of Israel in the Old Testament, Moses was on the mountain praying with his arms uplifted. When he was praying, they were victorious, when he stopped praying they lost. Proof that prayer makes all the difference.
The apostle Paul once said only Luke is with me (2 Timothy 4:11). Maybe you're "Luke" for someone. Somewhere there may be another who says, "Well, I know that he or she is standing by me." When they get into a position when they need your prayers, they may know and feel you're praying for them.
Are you bonded by prayer to someone in the like that? Their safety, their opportunities, their results, their ability to endure to the end are directly linked to your "air cover." Your prayer cover.
We are bonded by prayer when we sustain church leaders, when we send sons, daughters and parents on missions, when we send our children to primary and seminary. We become their "air cover" that goes ahead of them as they move forward in the Lord’s work. Remember the "air cover" of prayer cover can determine the outcome of the battle.