Praying for Others

Last week I heard neat sermon on the radio by Mike Faberez of Focal Point Radio on Colossians 1:9-12

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 long suffering with joy;giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

This passage contains 4 verbs that can help us as we pray for others. Just to preface, I don't think of this as a formula as much as part of an outline to help me as I pray for others.

So how can we pray for others?
1. That they would be fruitful. They would have good fruit as they grow in godliness. That they would increase in good deeds as evidence of the change Christ has made in their hearts and as they grow in Him. This is not a striving, but the outpouring of what He's done in our lives. Remembering that faith without works is dead. If there are no works in our lives, then we should examine ourselves to make sure that we are in the faith.

2. That they would increase in knowledge of God. This would include reading and studying the Bible, listening to sermons and applying them to our lives. Mentoring relationships, Bible studies, memorizing the Word, that each person on your prayer list would not be a hearer only, but a doer who acts, etc.

3. That they would be strengthened. Empowered by God to live a godly life. To overcome temptation and sin. To make it through trials and tribulations. To have the courage to stand up and face their fears. To overcome the flesh and its desires. To make it through each day. To obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit

and
4. That they would live joyfully, giving thanks to the Lord in everything. Not grumbling and complaining, but content and at peace.

These prayers have been added to my prayer list and I pray the Lord will use them to His glory!