prayer for others lightens one’s own load. The apostles were needy too. Prayer was requested for two matters. The apostles acknowledged that the success of their missionary labors was due to God’s blessing His Word as they proclaimed it. In particular, the spreading of the gospel was God’s work and its reception among those who heard it was due to His preparing hearts. The Thessalonians knew from their experiences how God works in people’s hearts to prepare them to receive the gospel; so they could