My Dad and I were talking about our prayer lists and he mentioned that in several of his letters to the churches, the Apostle Paul gave thanks by name for his fellow-laborers in Christ. His prayers inspire our own prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ah, how precious are the deep friendships forged under the fire of spiritual warfare!
This discussion encouraged me to re-think my prayer list and include a category I’m calling “my inner ring.” Included are folks whom I know love the Lord so much that His presence is consistently manifested in every area of their life. They are the same person at work, in the backyard, and at home as they are at church. They are the people I know have my back because we are aligned with a common purpose to glorify God. We are together on the front lines of spiritual warfare and desire to manifest the winning attitudes of Christ.
We are in a fierce war, and I want to ensure my front line team is operating at optimal force, don’t you?
We are in a spiritual battle for the souls of humanity. There is nothing more important we will ever accomplish than bringing folks with us to Heaven! We are stronger together. We are not an army of one. And the longer we’re in the battle, the more thankful we become for those beside us. That great warrior, the Apostle Paul, understood the importance of a strong inner circle. He wrote:
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying ALWAYS for you…” Colossians 1:3
In addition to reminding us to give thanks, Paul’s prayer gives us guidance about how else to pray for our co-laborers. He wrote:
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be FILLED with the KNOWLEDGE of His WILL in all WISDOM and SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING; that you may walk WORTHY of the Lord, fully PLEASING Him, being FRUITFUL in every good work and INCREASING in the knowledge of God; STRENGTHENED with all MIGHT, according to His glorious power, for all PATIENCE and LONGSUFFERING with joy; GIVING THANKS to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Colossians 1:3, 9-12
What a remarkable prayer!
I’ve added the above prayer to my prayer list for my inner circle. To pray that our fellow-warriors “be filled with the knowledge of His will” is asking that God give them a daily working knowledge of—WHO God is and—WHAT He requires of each of us. A prayer that they be “filled with knowledge and wisdom” is a request that the Spirit help them avoid the pitfalls of spiritual ignorance and avoid fear, instability, error, and eventually leads to great sorrow caused by sin.
Furthermore, the prayer to “walk worthy” and be “fruitful” is a heartfelt plea that God guide their thoughts, words and steps and bestow all His blessings on them as they endeavor to glorify Him. We desire that they bear much fruit as much as we desire it for ourselves because fruitfulness is proof of discipleship. Jesus said:
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7-8
My friend, prayer is a great weapon against the enemy. Don’t let it go to waste—especially for those who are your inner circle in fierce spiritual warfare.
