Have you ever had someone ask you to pray for them, yet been unsure exactly what to pray for them?
Have you ever wondered what God would want you to pray for those around us that we know are
having struggles in their lives?
Have you ever wondered exactly what God would have you to pray for yourself?
Have you ever wondered what God would have you pray for your church leaders? or for a new believer?
Have you ever wondered if you are praying for something that might not be in the will of God for yourself or another?
In the book of Colossians, the Apostle Paul gives us an example of a prayer he prayed consistently for the believers in Colossee.
It is found in Colossians 1, verses 9 through 14
(Colossians 1:9-14 NIV) For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I first became aware of this prayer through a sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley a few months ago. This is an example of a prayer that we can pray for ourselves and others, knowing that everything in it is the will of God, and if we pray this prayer, or a prayer based on it's elements, and we pray it consistently and in faith, God will hear and answer, and it will make a difference.
This is not to say we shouldn't pray for specific needs that we are aware of, for ourselves, or for others,
but this prayer can be prayed for anyone, anytime, with the knowledge that we are praying in the will of God for those for whom we pray it.