My heart soars when I read Paul’s prayers for churches throughout the New
Testament. It gives us a window into his soul, and at the same time, Paul
teaches us how to pray.
Famously, Jesus teaches all of His disciples how to pray through the “Lord’s Prayer,”but additionally, we can learn how to pray from Paul’s prayers. When we apply
the principles of prayer given to us from both Jesus and Paul, it then becomes
much easier to spend a “Sweet Hour in Prayer.”
In Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-15 we see how we should pray for new
converts; how to pray for other members of our local church; and how to pray for
ourselves:
Consider praying these 7 specific prayer requests.
1. Pray that the desire in you “might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all
wisdom and spiritual understanding.” (vs9)
2. Pray that you “might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.” (vs10)
3. Pray that you are “being fruitful in every good work.” (vs10)
4. Pray that you are “increasing in the knowledge of God.” (vs10)
5. Pray that you are “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious
power.” (vs11)
6. Pray that you are strengthened “unto all patience.” (vs11)
7. Pray that you are strengthened with “longsuffering with joyfulness.” (vs11)
We should learn to pray like Paul. We should “go speedily to pray before the
Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts” in all that we do. (Zechariah 8:21)
Anytime we read one of the apostle’s prayers in Scripture, we should take note
and learn to pray genuine gospel gratitude “giving thanks unto the Father.” (vs12)
But hold on, we aren’t done. Paul keeps going. We give thanks to God always
for: “redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (vs14)
Hallelujah! We have redemption through HIS BLOOD!
Doesn’t Paul make you want to shout that from the rooftops? Or maybe a mountain in Rome?
There is no other way to Heaven. No amount of good works that you can do and vain
repetition prayers to chant, (as the heathen do - Matthew 6:7), and there is no
additional sacrifice to be made because "this man, (Jesus) after He had offered
one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” (Hebrews
10:12)
The only way to receive redemption and forgiveness of sins is “through His
blood.” (vs14) Biblically speaking, there is no other way that salvation is
bestowed upon the sinner except through Jesus Christ.
We are reminded in verse 13 of the One “who hath delivered us from the power
of darkness” (vs13) and death, also gives us “redemption through HIS BLOOD,
even the forgiveness of sins.” (vs14) We rejoice that He has made us “meet to
be partakers of the inheritance of the saints of light.” (vs12)
May we always pray with gratitude for the gospel. Lastly, consider writing your
prayer down for others to see as Paul did. Long after the Lord takes you home to
heaven, your written prayers may be a blessing to those closest to you, to new
converts, to the young in Christ, and the elders in Christ and all those who read it!
The above article was written by Jonathan Thornton. He is a member of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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