I Will Pray

Colossians 4:2

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Throughout his letters to churches and to individuals in the New Testament, Paul is found praying.  Paul is found asking others to pray.  To the church in Colosse, Paul said in Colossians 4:2, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."  To the church in Philippi, Paul said in Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  To the church in Ephesus, Paul said in Ephesians 6:18-20, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.  Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.  Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

People ask me all the time, "How can I pray for you?"  They ask me all the time, "How can I pray for my spouse, my child, my co-worker, my friend?  How can I pray for my enemy?"  I believe Jesus gives us the blueprint for how to pray, and I believe Paul models that blueprint for us throughout his letters in the New Testament.  In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us to begin our prayers with PRAISE to God. He tells us to be begin our prayers with SUBMISSION to God.  He tells to go on praying with DEPENDENCE upon God.  He tells us to go on praying for DELIVERANCE by God.  Jesus prayed. Jesus prayed consistently.  Jesus prayed for Himself and for others, and Jesus asked others to pray with Him and even for Him.  Paul modeled Jesus in his own prayer life.  Paul prayed.  Paul prayed consistently.  Paul prayed for himself and for others, and Paul asked others to pray with him and for him.  

Today, you may need prayer.  Today, you may need to pray for someone else...a spouse, a child, a co-worker, a friend, and yes, maybe even an enemy.  We are called by God to pray for everyone.  I believe we can learn from these passages and even more passages in the Bible how to pray.  I believe our prayers should begin with PRAISE to God.  He is worthy of our praise, especially in our prayers. I believe we should pray with SUBMISSION to God.  He is the only One with the power to move mountains in our lives and in the lives of others.  When we submit to Him, we are submitting to His power, His authority, His will, and His divine answer.  I believe we go on praying with DEPENDENCE upon God.  He can and He will give us exactly what we need when we need it.  Without God's blessings, we are hopeless and helpless.  We need God!  We depend upon God!  I believe we pray for DELIVERANCE by God.  God is the one who can deliver us from the evil one.  God is the one who can deliver us from persecution, from peril, from internal and external turmoil, from physical anguish, as well as emotional and spiritual anguish.  His deliverance may be to pull us out of those circumstances.  His deliverance may be to strengthen us in those circumstances.  However, if we PRAISE Him, if we SUBMIT to Him, if we DEPEND upon Him, then we will have His peace in the DELIVERANCE He gives us...whenever, whatever, and however He moves.  This is true for our own lives, and this is true for the lives of others.

Lord, I WILL PRAY.  I WILL PRAY the way You prayed.  I WILL PRAY for myself and for others, friends and enemies.  Lord, I WILL PRAY consistently, and I WILL PRAY believing.  I WILL PRAY with watchful eyes and a thankful heart.  I WILL PRAY for others and with others.  Lord, I will ask others to pray for me, that I may boldly and fearlessly proclaim Your gospel.  Thank You, Lord, for teaching me to pray, for allowing me to pray, and for calling me to pray.  I WILL PRAY!