I am in the middle of writing a bible study on Colossians. I have been studying Paul’s prayer for the Colossians. The first sentence of his prayer says it all —
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you….”
Okay. So, Paul first hears about the Colossians from Epaphrus and he doesn’t stop praying for the Colossians? Somehow this must tie into his “pray without ceasing” motto. When was the last time you kept someone continually in your prayers?
But, he’s just getting warmed up.
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way…”
Do we pray this way for people? For new believers? This is a continual type of prayer that Paul is talking about. This is a heart-felt prayer that is crying out for an internal revolution in the Colossians people. Paul is asking for special gifts for them and it’s not gifts of money, fame, health or success. What does his heart-felt prayer say? Just chew on that for a few minutes.
AND he’s still not done.
…”bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-14
This is a pretty powerful prayer. Paul isn’t wasting time. He’s hitting a home run and going all the way on this.
I can only wonder how much stronger the average believer in Jesus would be, if he or she had someone praying for them in the way Paul prayed. What do you think?
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