An Amazing Prayer For Strengthening Each Other

As I was reading the book of Colossians, I had to stop and reread Colossians Chapter 1 several times in order for the incredible impact of this passage to soak into my mind. It is an absolutely amazing prayer by the Apostle Paul for the church at Colossians. Furthermore, Paul not only PRAYED for them, but he WROTE a letter to telling the church exactly HOW he was praying for them:

“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 1:9-12

‭‭The city of Colossae was probably one of the smallest and least important cities to which Paul wrote a letter. In fact, the city of Colosse is not even mentioned in the Book of Acts, and all we know about it comes from a few references in the letter to Philemon. But the Spirit of God does not discriminate when it comes to leading us to give the best we have to EVERY believer and—this includes prayer! Paul wrote that he did NOT cease to pray for them. Paul was a VIP; like a really big deal among first century Christians yet—the Holy Spirit laid it on his heart to not only faithfully PRAY but to also WRITE to this small church and let them know how he was faithfully praying! 

Let’s examine Paul’s prayer:

FILLED: Paul prayed that they be FILLED with a knowledge of God’s will. In other words, He is praying that they draw so close to God that His ways become their ways. Paul knew that only daily surrender to God’s will would make them RICH in God’s wisdom and knowledge. 

CONFORM: He prayed that their life would CONFORM to their knowledge of God. He knew that the more they studied and conformed to His will, the more they would hate their sin. Much like the BE-attitudes of Jesus, the shifting of their behavior to God’s will would produce blessings greater than they could imagine. 

In fact, conforming to God’s righteous ways would make them fruitful “in every good work.” Remember, Jesus promised:

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 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 15:4-8

FRUITFUL: Paul wanted them to know that being “fruitful in every good work” applies to EVERY Christian. God gives us all an unparalleled opportunity to get in on the action of bearing fruit. How? If you meet someone who is not saved, share the Gospel or your own testimony; if your neighbor is struggling to pay the electric bill, help out and pay it if you’re able! If a coworker is down, take the time to listen and to care. “Every good work” does not mean you necessarily have to plant a church or start a mission; it means you can start today by helping mow the yard of the elderly next-door neighbor. You volunteer in the community and these “good works” pave a road for the Gospel to be shared because the fruit of God’s Spirit is pouring out of you and into others. Paul understood the power of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness and meekness—especially when their works were guided by the influence of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer. He desired good things for Christians at Colossae!

STRENGTHENED: Paul prayed they would be strengthened “with ALL might, according to HIS glorious POWER.” He was not praying that they become strong in their own abilities; but rather in the strength of the Almighty presence of God. The source of our power makes all the difference!

THANKFUL: Finally, Paul prayed that they would be thankful. Gratefulness increases our dependence upon God, which in turn makes us humble and draws us closer to him. Closer to him, we are enabled to accomplish things that are far greater than we can ask for or imagine.

Isn’t this an amazing prayer we can pray for each other? Furthermore, how encouraging it would be to receive a written message from a Christian brother or sister who told us they were praying for us today. 

Let’s do it for each other!!!

Lord, I pray that _____ may be filled with the knowledge of Your will and have all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

That ______ may walk worthy of your calling, Oh Lord and be fully pleasing to You, becoming fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of You, Oh Lord; 

I pray that ______ may be strengthened in Your Almighty power in order to endure each battle that will be faced today with patience, longsuffering and thus, be enabled to capture the joy of each victory for Your glory; 

May ______giving thanks to You, Oh Father, because it is Your Son who has qualified _____ to partake in the glorious inheritance of salvation that belongs to us who are Your saints of light.

P.S. I actually prayed this prayer for several people AND texted it to them as well. I intend to use it often. I know God will be working powerfully through this prayer. I pray you will use it too—God gave us His precious Word to empower us to do kingdom work. 

Prayer is an Almighty weapon!