18. Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
19. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
    

The writer of Hebrews, which most believe to be Paul, is asking for their continued prayer.  He reassures them that their consciences are clear and they desire to live right and encourages them to pray so he could come to see them sooner.

Prayer definitely makes a difference.  Sometimes people ask us to pray for them or we tell people we’ll pray for them and we don’t really mean it or we don’t really expect that our prayers will do anything.  Prayer is not to be taken lightly.  He wouldn’t have asked for their prayers, reassuring them that their consciences are good, if he didn’t expect something to come out of their prayers.

They wouldn’t want to pray for Paul’s success if Paul was off doing the wrong things so he reassures them they are willing to live honestly in everything.  This goes to show us that we need to be careful how we pray for people.

He also asks them to pray so he can come see them sooner.  That means they know that prayer can change circumstances. We need to realize that as well!

Confession:

When I pray I will realize that my prayers change things.  I will be aware and alert concerning how I pray for people.  I will pray knowing and expecting that my prayers make a difference and are not empty words.