Love God Greatly - the Importance of Prayer: Approaching the Throne of GraceSample

Pray for Each Other

Read: Romans 15:30; Colossians 1:9–12

SOAP: Colossians 1:9

For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Into the text

In his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul opened by sharing his prayer for the church. Paul expressed how he and Timothy had been faithfully praying for the church. They had prayed for God to fill them with the knowledge of His will and to give them spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they would live lives that were worthy of the Lord. They prayed they would grow in their knowledge and understanding of who God is, that they would be strengthened by God daily, and that they would recognize and praise God for the deliverance and salvation He offers.

Paul’s prayer shows his deep love and thankfulness for this church. His prayer displayed his heart for their salvation and continued spiritual growth. He knew that God would continue to work in continuing to pray for them. Paul understood the connection between spiritual knowledge and understanding and a strong Christian walk. He knew that the church in Colossae would not be able to bear fruit or bring others to saving faith in Jesus without understanding.

Like Paul, we can pray this same prayer for our friends, family members, children, co-workers, and neighbors. We can pray this for our churches, too, that we would be filled with spiritual knowledge and understanding as a unified body of Christ. The more we walk with God, spend time knowing Him, and understanding His character and plan, the more our lives reflect Him. As we commit to praying this prayer for our friends, may we also pray it over ourselves, seeking to continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God.

Who are you committed to praying for each day? Are you consistently praying for the unity and growth of God’s church and His plan for the world? Will you make a shift today from praying solely for your own needs to praying for the needs of believers and nonbelievers in this world?

Prayer

Father God, You created me with divine purpose for Your divine will. Since I am significant to You and was made for You, Lord, I want to know Your purpose and plans for me in your perfect timing. Reveal my place in Your plan to strengthen and grow Your church and reach the lost. Lord, help me focus less on myself and more on those who need You. In Jesus’ name, amen.