GOD HAS GIVEN US THE GREAT GIFT OF PRAYER; USE IT WISELY

BIBLE PASSAGE:
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped
praying for you. 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:
bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
(Colossians 1:9-10)

MEDITATION:
Praying effectively isn’t something we all naturally know how to do;
for most Christians, it must be learned. In fact, one of the disciples
who had walked with Jesus, asked for help in this area.
    One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he
    finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach
    us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
    (Luke 11:1)

So often we hear requests to bless, protect, and provide for a person.
Although these are good things to ask of the Lord, there is another,
more powerful way to pray. When we speak to Him using Scripture,
our conversation contains the authority of almighty God.

The apostle Paul wrote this passage to the Colossian church. From
these verses, we know the specific requests he brought before God
concerning his brothers. These are applicable to us today as well.
Let’s focus on the first two requests.

First, Paul asked for the believers to understand God’s plan for
their lives. The Lord often does not reveal everything at once,
but He gives seeking hearts enough information to trust and
follow His way.

Secondly, the apostle prayed that the Colossian Christians would
conduct themselves in a manner worthy of Christ and pleasing to
Him. Paul longed to see their lives be consistent with their true
spiritual identity. A follower of Jesus is evident to other people
because of his or her lifestyle and spiritual fruit.
    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
    kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
    Against such things there is no law.
    (Galatians 5:22-23)

One of the greatest gifts we can give is to lift a person in prayer. And
there is no more powerful way to do this than to speak Scripture on
his or her behalf. Colossians 1:9-14 is a beautiful example of how we
can pray when we bring loved ones and ourselves before God’s throne.
    For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have
    not stopped praying for you. 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: 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)

ACTION:
How often do you pray for others? Do you pray for those who
are sick? Do you pray for those who are going through difficult
times? Do you pray for those who are lost? Do you extend your
prayers to those other than immediate friends and family? Do
you pray God’s Word back to Him?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us prayer as a
venue for communicating with You. Help me to be more
sensitive to the sick, the hurting, and the lost. Teach me
how to properly pray for others. Lead me to Your scriptures
on prayer so that I will have a greater understanding of how
to pray.”

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