“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9).
Turn to Colossians, Chapter 1. Now Jesus prayed that Peter would not enter into the temptation. That means that temptation is thrown into you. The test and trial is thrown in front of you. But if you pray, you won’t fall in it. We fall because we don’t spend time with God.
You know, I never have read where Paul prayed much for himself. You always read about Paul praying for everybody else. Rarely do you read about Paul praying so he could get out of a mess. Paul’s attitude was, “I know you are praying for me so I can get out of this mess, because I am praying for you.”
He said, “We cease not to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We pray that you might walk worthy of the God unto all pleasing. We are praying that you will be fruitful in every good work. We are praying that you increase in the knowledge of God.”
Now here is a whole list of things for people to pray. If you want to have something to pray, pray this for me. I want more than, exact complete knowledge of His will, praise God. I want to flow more in the wisdom of God, more spiritual understanding. This is how to pray for other believers.
As a pastor people are always talking to me about whatever is going on in their life. “Will you pray for me about this or that.” And sometimes I ask the question, “When was the last time you prayed for somebody else in that matter?” And I usually get this deer in the headlight look, “Huh?” Doing for somebody else is what opens the door for things to be done for you.
Well, we find a whole list of things to pray for in Colossians, Chapter 1. Now if we pray that there would be increase in the revelation of the word of God, as we come down the home stretch before the coming of the Lord, we will have it.
Having increase in revelation of the word is going to be vital to our success. And we will have people who are productive in everything they do for God. Therefore, praying for other believers blesses the whole body of Christ.
Scripture References: Colossians 1:9-13; Ephesians 1:15-23
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).