'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.' Colossians 4:2-6
Prayer is important, if we intend to L.L.J.L. (Live Like Jesus Lived & Love Like Jesus Loved). Prayer is vital to any follower of Christ, however if we are honest it is hard for us to do. Some thoughts that will help you in your prayer life as we pray. Start by getting into the Word/Bible, then pray (even in the middle of your Bible reading) using concentric circles (circles inside of each other).
John Piper said that it helps when praying to use the tool of concentric circles. For example, when praying, picture concentric circles in your mind. In the first circle, pray for own soul. Pray using the acronym I.O.U.S.. Incline my heart to God and His Word/Bible. Open my eyes that I might see wonderful things from His Word/Bible and that I would see Him. Unite my heart with what the Word/Bible says. Satisfy me with Himself. After pray for yourself, spend time in confession. Then move on to the second circle, pray for your wife/husband. Third move out in the circles and pray for your children and other family members including friends. Then move out and pray for the ministry’s your involved in, praying for workers and individuals as God brings them to mind. Keep moving out to the next circle and pray for your church and the staff, including the ministry’s that your church is involved in.
Can you imagine what might happen if we all prayed this way for each other and our church? Strategies are important, but they can never replace prayer. I think we would begin to see unbelievable spiritual growth in the lives of our church and staff and this would begin to move out through the congregation and into the community. You can put anything you want in the concentric circles – Church families, missionaries, and our country. etc. Maybe you already have a great prayer life, then keep it up. I just wanted to pass this tip on to you, it may be helpful in your walk with our Lord/Creator.
It would be helpful to memorize this verse:
Colossians. 4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." another translation says "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."
Here Paul told the Colossians that Epaphras always struggled on their behalf in prayer. He was praying for their spiritual growth. The word “struggle” means to fight for, to agonize over. It actually has behind it the meaning of praying for someone it such a way that the one praying can actually become physically sick. If someone were to ask you to describe your pray life with one word, what would that one word be? For most Christians, it probably wouldn’t be the word “struggle”. Anyway, let’s begin to struggle on each other’s behalf so they may Live Like Jesus Lived.
