Pray For Others

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Colossians 4:2-4)

In today’s key passage of Scripture, Paul is commanding us to do something that, if we do it, will be one of the best things we will ever do for the people around us, and that is to pray for one another.  

Specifically, Paul says we should devote ourselves to prayer. The word “devote” is a compound word. The first part of the word means to “be steadfast” or “endure.” That word is then coupled with a preposition that puts the word on steroids. It literally means “to hold fast and not let go.”

Paul is saying that prayer is not just something you say occasionally. It is not just saying a blessing over a meal or “Now I lay me down to sleep...” before I go to bed. It is more than an act that you do occasionally. It is an attitude that you live in continuously.

This is an imperative. This is not a request. This is a command. Paul is telling us that from the time that we get up in the morning until the time we go to bed at night, we should always be in an attitude of prayer, looking for opportunities to pray and be praying about everything and for everyone.

So let me ask you some questions. Are you praying for the people God has placed in your life? Are you posturing your heart towards prayer so that you are ready to pray when the Spirit places someone on your heart? When your friends and family ask you to pray for them, do you actually carve out time to intercede on their behalf? Or do you just tell them you’re praying for them to check a box?

These are questions we need to be answering regularly in order to examine our hearts when it comes to prayer. My hope is that starting today, you will begin to prioritize praying for others like you never have before, and that you will commit to being a prayer warrior for the people God has uniquely placed in your life.

Dear Lord, thank you that I can come to you in prayer anytime about anything. I want to make prayer more of a priority than I have been, so God I’m asking you to help me with that. Refocus my heart and my soul back to you and have the Holy Spirit prompt me and encourage me to pray about whatever or whomever you place on my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.