Praying for Others (Colossians 1:3)

“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.”

Colossians 1:3

The Apostle Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote to the Colossians. Even though his own circumstances were challenging, he thought about the Colossians and prayed for them. He told them that he was ceaseless in his prayers for them, and he prayed for them with such fervency that he could recall what he asked for them. Paul told the Colossians that he prayed:

• that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will (Colossians 1:9)
• that their knowledge would help them walk in a way that was worthy of the Lord and that they would bear spiritual fruit (Colossians 1:10)
• that they would be strengthened so that they would have endurance and patience with joy (Colossians 1:11)
• then he thanked God that He had delivered the Colossians from darkness to light (Colossians 1:12-13)

The Bible teaches that we should pray for God’s help in our own lives and that we should come to Him with our natural needs. But it also shows that we should pray for others and that we should include their spiritual needs in our prayers as well.

Think of how encouraged you would feel if someone told you that they were praying for you and even told you about the wonderful, specific things they were asking for on your behalf. Consider giving that gift to another by praying for someone and sharing with them what you hoped that God would do for them.