Colossians 1

Colossians 1 started with Paul commending the believers at Colosse Church for their faith, love, and hope, three of the most common categories used to describe our belief. Do you know of anyone who exhibits great faith, love, and hope?

Perhaps someone who has acted like a mentor to you in your life of faith or someone who has helped you in times of need before?

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (Colossians 1:3)

When you think about that person, do you give thanks to God? Would you praise God for having kept that person in his faith? Would you count it as a blessing to have known such a person?

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, (Philippians 1:3-4)

Paul indeed gave thanks to God for having known such brethren in Christ. In fact, he prayed for them since the day he heard of their faith, and always in every prayer of his.

What do we pray about in our prayers? Who do we pray for?

Even though these believers are already commendable for their faith in Christ Jesus, and for their love for the saints, Paul continued to emphasize that they never ceased praying for them. And the prayer request that follows pretty much also sums up for us what sort of spiritual nurture we should all aim towards:

“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 longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Colossians 1:9-12)

Lately, I find my prayers being very self-focused, or only focused on the people who are closest to me. Many factors may have contributed to such “selfish” prayers but I remembered there was a time when it used to be easier making intercessory prayers, whether for a individual or for the church.

What happened? Have I grown weary of making intercessions? Or perhaps it got to do with the love we have for our brethren. When love starts to grow cold, we are rather contented just praying for our small group of loved ones.

However, let us not forget that intercessory prayers are powerful. The Bible encourages us to confess our sins to each other and to pray for each other.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16)

Perhaps it is the love component in intercessory prayers that move God to heal us. Whatever it is, God is pleased whenever we come together as one.

If every one of us can always remember someone else in prayer, isn’t that a beautiful thing to God, because in God’s eyes, we are connected by prayers!

Let this hymn reminds us that, while someone is praying for us, let us also be that someone to be praying for somebody else :)

Someone is praying for you

Someone is praying for you
Someone is praying for you
So when it seems you’re all alone
And your heart will break in two
Remember someone is praying for you.

Have the clouds round you gathered in the midst of the storm
Is your ship tossed and battered
Are you weary and worn
Don’t lose hope someone’s praying for you this very day
And peace be still, He’s already on the way

When it seems that you prayed till your strength is all gone
And your tears fall like raindrops all the day long
He is there and He knows just how much you can bear
He’ll speak your name to someone in prayer

Give thanks for someone in your prayer today <3>