Day of Praise

Tues, 04/04/17, "Day of Praise"

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you" - Colossians 1:3

Have you ever heard of The Lord's Prayer?

I know it's a silly question, but what we call "The Lord's Prayer" is Jesus's reply to the disciples when they ask him to teach them to pray. 

Now then, have you ever heard of St. Paul's Prayer? I haven't either, but today's Bible section includes what could be called "St. Paul's Prayer" because there are clear elements teaching us how we should pray, just like Jesus was teaching us how to pray with The Lord's Prayer. 

Here's what Paul teaches. 

1 - Thank God for something good about the people you're praying for. Paul writes, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints" (Colossians 1:3-4). He's saying that he prays, thanking God for something good about the Colossians, namely, their faith in Jesus and their love for others. 

When we pray, let's also thank God for something good about the people we're praying for.

2 - Ask God to give something of eternal and everlasting good to the people you're praying for. Paul writes, "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" (Colossians 1:9). He's saying that he prays, asking God to give something of eternal and everlasting good to the Colossians, namely, knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. There are all sorts of earthly and perishable things Paul could have asked from God for the Colossians, but he chose to ask for heavenly and enduring things. 

When we pray, let's also ask God to give something of eternal and everlasting, of heavenly and enduring good to the people we're praying for.

3 - Pray to God with a purpose. Pray for that good gift that you prayed for in #2 to lead to a God-glorifying outcome, end, and goal for the people you're praying for. Paul writes, "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" (Colossians 1:10-12). Paul's saying that he prays to God with a God-glorifying purpose for the Colossians, namely, 
a) that they live a life worthy of the Lord and 
b) that they please God by: 
i) bearing fruit in every good work, 
ii) growing in the knowledge of God, and
iii) being strengthened with all power so they can have great endurance and patience and joyful thanks to God. 

When we pray, let's also pray to God with a God-glorifying purpose, goal, and outcome in mind for the people we're praying for.

To pray St. Paul's Prayer will take a little more time than usual because St. Paul's Prayer requires preparation. It requires us to think about these three elements. 

But the prayer preparation time will be worth it because thoughtful prayer makes everything better. 

God, through Paul, says so!

Praise God!