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The Apostle Paul in 1 Tim. 2:1 exhorted all Christians: “I urged, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone”. He prayed specially for the Colossian Church. Paul probably has never been to Colossae but he gave an example to Timothy of how and what to pray for people we probably have never met. Specifically, for the Colossians, he prayed that they:
- having been filled with the Holy Spirit, to know God’s will for their lives (Col. 1:8,9);
- be willing to be transformed to do God’s will and living a life that continually bears fruit and attain spiritual growth (vs 10),
- be empowered with the Holy Spirit (vs 11) and (iv) to maintain a positive, thankful and joyful attitude in their walk with God (vs 12). Of course there are many variances to the types of prayers that we can make under different circumstances when praying for others.
The Bible also tells us of the numerous characters, among them Moses, Paul and even our Lord Jesus interceding with prayers on behalf of the people. Why is this intercession so significant and important for every Christian? Praying for one another is good and pleasing to God who wants all men to be saved. Your prayers for others move the hand and heart of God to take action on their behalf – believers or not. Through your prayers, others can receive the same benefits and blessings that you receive when you pray for yourself. Praying for another person not only helps that person find God in the midst of trouble but also helps us recognize the blessings that God has given us daily. It is also necessary and vital for our own spiritual growth. At the human level, we are limited by what we can give others by our talent, our time and our finances. Prayers enable us to step up to a higher level by releasing the people we prayed for to the activity/intervention of God. When we live this way of praying for others we serve as blessings to everyone who touches our lives. “Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35) and what better way to manifest this giving than by praying for others.
Now, God has called and empowered us with the Holy Spirit to be always fruitful. Are we ready and willing to play our part in the salvation of all people and touch the lives of others – especially those closest to us?
