Well, back to the book of Colossians and chapter 4. In Col 4:3 Paul now asks for prayer himself. He is in prison but he doesn't ask for prayer about his health. In fact, those receiving the letter would have wanted to know how to pray for him and might have been surprised by the way he answered....then again, maybe they wouldn't have!
1. That God may open to us a door for the word, [with the purpose being] to declare the mystery of Christ.
2. That I may make it (the mystery of Christ) clear.
Paul spends the time to send a letter, to ask for prayer, and his focus is on his ministry.
So, do you attend a church? Does that church support missionaries? So, how do we pray for them?
Well, OK, the first question is actually DO we pray for them. If we are, as we should, then this verse can be a model for us.
Side not: have you had missionaries in your church? How many of them have told you that while they appreciate financial support, then truly covet prayer support? I've heard it many, many times. So, let's give it!
It shouldn't be too hard. Find a list of your church's missionaries and pray for one of them per day when you pray over the rest of your list. Soon, I would imagine that you will begin to seek out more information (where they are, who their ministry is to, do they have kids, etc.) but the beauty of Paul's prayer request here is that it is universal. You don't need to know a thing about your missionaries. You can still pray these two things for them and take that request to God.
So, take some time and pray for your missionaries this week and month!!
To God be the glory.
1. That God may open to us a door for the word, [with the purpose being] to declare the mystery of Christ.
2. That I may make it (the mystery of Christ) clear.
Paul spends the time to send a letter, to ask for prayer, and his focus is on his ministry.
So, do you attend a church? Does that church support missionaries? So, how do we pray for them?
Well, OK, the first question is actually DO we pray for them. If we are, as we should, then this verse can be a model for us.
Side not: have you had missionaries in your church? How many of them have told you that while they appreciate financial support, then truly covet prayer support? I've heard it many, many times. So, let's give it!
It shouldn't be too hard. Find a list of your church's missionaries and pray for one of them per day when you pray over the rest of your list. Soon, I would imagine that you will begin to seek out more information (where they are, who their ministry is to, do they have kids, etc.) but the beauty of Paul's prayer request here is that it is universal. You don't need to know a thing about your missionaries. You can still pray these two things for them and take that request to God.
So, take some time and pray for your missionaries this week and month!!
To God be the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment