Well it is almost the New Year and what a great time it has been reading through the entire Bible in a year chronologically. This practice is a repeat, but this year was a blessing to join others in the body of Christ and to have a focus on Sundays with a sermon based on what I had just read this week.
This week was a focus on the apostle Paul's writings while he was in chains. Prison Epistles they are often called. The book of Colossians has been one of my "need a tune up" books in my spiritual walk. When I'm having a bad attitude about my job I would turn to Col. 3 to be reminded that I'm working for God and not men. Well this morning I had some great reminders about prayer. Here are just a few of my thoughts from the book of Colossians.
Col. 1:3 "We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you..."
This denotes having a thankful heart...and a continued prayer life for other people
Col. 1:9-12 "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask 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 steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light."
This passage was my grandmother's theme as she lived and loved us. She would spend hours in the mornings lifting us all up in prayer and she would often use the above words for us. She is now with the Lord. Reading this not only reminded me of the wonderful heritage God has given me, but also a challenge that it is my turn to now lift others up in prayer and to use these words of Paul, inspired by God.
Col. 4:2-4 "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak."
Devote--not to be taken lightly, but a commitment Attitude of thanksgiving--enough said!
Praying at the same time for us--lift others up in prayer that are in ministry and on the mission field
What to pray: that God will open up to us a door for the word--to pray for opportunities to share Christ with others, and that as they speak of the mystery of Christ, their words would be clear.
Well if that's not a great challenge for the next year I don't know what is. I'm excited to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with those I love. The gift of prayer is one gift that I can continue to give to others beyond this season. So I give thanks and pray...
No comments:
Post a Comment