by David Brenneman
"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." Colossians 1:9-12.
Here is a prayer to pray for ourselves and others in Christ Jesus.
We ought to pray without ceasing and this particular prayer does cover much.
Many have taken to recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and don't go much beyond that. Jesus doesn't want repetition. He wants people after His own heart.
Don't get it wrong, the Lord’s Prayer is an obviously fantastic model of what the priorities of a prayer ought to involve. But meaningless repetition is of no benefit when the heart isn't in it. In fact before the Lord Jesus mentions the model for prayer He specifically says this.
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Matthew 6:7-8.
We are to indeed pray for one another. We are to pray for those who persecute us. We are to pray for healing where needed. We are to pray for our leaders and those in authority over us.
We need to be in step with the Holy Spirit and not stray off in our own way.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8.
Prayer also is to be an action. It's our personal communication line with our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. It's personal.
It's personal in ways we have yet to fathom. He has loved us since before we were born. When He was on the cross we were on His mind.
We are to bear one another's burdens. "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2.
"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,"
Romans 13:14a
We need to lift up one another in prayer to keep our eyes on Jesus.
To be the light of Jesus Christ in this world is to follow in His footsteps. He prayed quite often to His and now our Father in Heaven.
Follow His example and conduct.
The hallmark of a follower of Jesus Christ.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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