A Model of Grateful Prayer

Opening Up Romans—5

Exploring the riches of God’s grace, one passage at a time.

As a dad, I’ve learned that part of joy is being grateful for what others accomplish—especially my kids. I recently came across a term for that: vicarious gratitude. It’s when you’re thankful not for what you’ve done, but for what someone else has experienced. It deepens connection and fills the heart with joy.

That’s what Paul models in Romans 1:8. He’s writing to believers in Rome—most of whom he’s never met—yet his heart overflows with gratitude for them. Here we see a model of grateful prayer, a picture of what it looks like to thank God for the gospel’s power at work in others.

Prayer Rooted in Thankfulness

Paul begins, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you.”

Prayer, for Paul, always begins with thanksgiving. The Heidelberg Catechism calls prayer “the chief part of the thankfulness which God requires of us.” Prayer isn’t about getting something from God; it’s about responding to His grace.

Notice that Paul’s prayer is through Jesus Christ. He prays through the Mediator, the High Priest who brings our words before the Father. And he prays not for himself, but for others—even those he’s never met.

John Chrysostom once said, “Keeping someone in your prayers is a mark of your whole concern and love.” Paul’s heart was wide enough to hold the entire world in prayer. What about ours? When was the last time you prayed simply to thank God for His work in someone else’s life? 

Astonished Gratitude

Paul is genuinely astonished by what God has done in Rome. When he wrote this letter near the end of his third missionary journey, there was already a thriving church in the empire’s capital — but Paul hadn’t planted it.

So how did it begin? The book of Acts gives us a clue. Among the crowd at Pentecost were “visitors from Rome” (Acts 2:10). Some likely returned home with the gospel, and over time, the message spread from synagogue to street, from house to house.

By the time Paul writes, small Christian communities are scattered across the city — homes like those of Priscilla and Aquila, Andronicus and Junia, and others he greets in chapter 16. No apostle had founded this church, yet it flourished. As Ambrosiaster later wrote, “Without seeing any apostles or miracles, they nevertheless accepted faith in Christ.” 

That’s astonishing. It’s worth thanking God for—that His Spirit moves freely, unhindered by geography, personality, or politics.

Faith Proclaimed in All the World

Paul goes on: “Your faith is proclaimed in all the world.”

Word of the Roman believers’ faith had spread far beyond their city. They had no Christian emperor, no friendly laws, no cultural support—yet the gospel thrived. Chrysostom marveled, “So mighty was the power of the Crucified One that His message carried to every corner of the earth.”

Their faith—not their influence or institutions—was what people talked about. That’s convicting, isn’t it? Paul’s words remind us that gospel power doesn’t depend on worldly power.

So instead of complaining about the culture, let’s pray for changed hearts. Instead of chasing influence, let’s live as witnesses. The gospel still moves through ordinary people who trust that “it is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16).

Thank God for His Work in Others

Paul gives us a model of grateful prayer—one that thanks God for others, marvels at His grace, and rejoices that faith is spreading.

This week, try praying like that. Thank God for someone else’s faith. Rejoice in what He’s doing beyond your reach. And remember: vicarious gratitude isn’t just good psychology—it’s the heartbeat of a gospel-shaped life.