No matter the time or circumstance, we can remind each other, “God loves you and will make you stronger!”

For example: In chains, a prisoner for the sake of Christ, Paul wrote a letter of encouragement and correction to the “saints in Christ of Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters” (1:2).

At the heart of this encouragement was Paul’s thanks to God for the Colossians’ full embrace of the gospel and the obvious transformation that had come as they trusted God. He saw in their circumstances more proof that the gospel was “bearing fruit and growing all over the world” (1:6).

Can you imagine the encouragement that comes with getting such a letter? To have the words, “I’ve heard about you” be followed with a list of good things is tremendously encouraging. I expect that the disciples gathered in Colossae were filled with joy as they heard those words read to the group.

Beginning with those words of encouragement, Paul continued—telling the people of the church that he doesn’t stop praying for them. They are on his “prayer list.” How does Paul pray for them? He spells it out …

For this reason we also, 
  since the day we heard about it, 
    have not ceased praying for you  
    and asking that you may be filled 
      with the knowledge of His will  
        in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  
    so that 
    you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,  
      to please Him in all respects, 
        bearing fruit in every good work 
        and increasing in the knowledge of God; 
      strengthened with all power,  
        according to His glorious might, 
          for the attaining 
            of all perseverance and patience;  
      joyously giving thanks to the Father,  
        who has qualified us  
        to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
    
                                 — Colossians 1:9–12 (NASB)

Encouragement has to come if you know that requests like these are be made on your behalf to our God—who is active in the world and has demonstrated a desire to respond to such prayers. So Paul, knowing that his requests were in line with what Christ has promised to his disciples, told the poeple of Colossae what he was praying. He wrote this description to encourage them.

Because of that, this prayer is a great example of one way we can pray for each other and for the church as a whole. To be specific, as we pray, we can ask our heavenly Father to grant that we:

• develop a better knowledge of His will
• walk in His will and way
• please God with our thoughts, words, and deeds
• have our good works bear fruit
• develop a better relationship with God (know Him)
• become stronger so that we can
  • persevere and
  • be patient
• are empowered to see all that God has done for us
• are driven to joy as we celebrate God’s awesome work.

And, we can tell each other about this kind of prayer.

Jesus warns about praying in order to be seen praying by people; that kind of prayer is not prayer—it is acting. He also describes the value of secret prayer—prayer that is known to you and God. Yet, Jesus prayed in public. He prayed with His disciples. He taught them how to pray. We should heed the warning of Jesus and never let our prayer become an act, seeking the praise of people.

And, we should learn from the New Testament letters—it is good for us to tell each other that we are praying and to explain how we are praying for others. The fact that we are praying and the content of our prayer will remind others that God provides all good things, that God’s desire is for our growth in Christ, and that God is transforming us—making us into new creatures fit for His kingdom.

When we pray this kind of prayer and tell each other, we encourage each other in the way of Christ.