Giving Thanks Always for You We Do Not Cease to Pray

God has truly blessed us in that He gave us a means by which we can communicate with Him pouring out our hearts before Him: the avenue of prayer. We are able to come boldly to the throne of grace to receive the help we really need (Heb. 4:16). We are able to get our cares and concerns off of our chest and put them into the hands of the One who can do something about the issues (1 Pet. 5:7). We can pour out our gratitude for all that God has done for us, trusting that He knows best, which will result in the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds through Christ (Phil. 4:6,7). What a blessing it is to know that God’s ears are open to our prayers (1 Pet. 3:12). 

The apostle Paul is an example in many ways but one area that is often admired about Paul is his time spent in prayer. In his letters, he often mentions specific reasons why he is praying for the recipients.

One such example of prayer is found in the book of Colossians. Paul expresses his reasons for being thankful for the Christians in Colossae. This prayer was not a random “thank you for our many blessings.” No, this prayer was filled with specific reasons for gratitude. Paul was thankful for their faith, hope, love and fruit (Col. 1:3-8). Their actions demonstrated their faith in God, their love for God, their love for one another, and their hope for eternal life. Paul was thankful that these brethren were working, active and producing fruit for Christ. To know that someone appreciated their efforts and even thanked God for what they were doing must have been an encouragement to their confidence and attitude.

Paul wasn’t done. He did not cease to pray for them. In this encouraging letter, Paul listed several things specifically that he was praying for on their behalf.

He had asked God, that they might be filled with knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom (v.9). He wanted them to be well versed in the scripture. He wanted them to be saturated in the knowledge and wisdom of God. They needed to know exactly what the will of God was and then put His will into daily practice. We all should know God and His will fully and then have the insight and wisdom to live accordingly.

Paul asked that they might walk worthy of the Lord: fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in knowledge of God (v.10). Our daily lives should demonstrate our knowledge and wisdom. Every aspect of our lives should be pleasing to God. Our lives should bear much fruit (Jn. 15:1-8) as we continue to grow in knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18).

Paul asked that they would be strengthened with might (v.11). How do you gain spiritual strength and power? You do so by growing in knowledge, wisdom and the growth process that allows you to walk worthy of Christ. Because we are of God, we can overcome the world (1 Jn. 4:4). We stand in the power of His might and put on the whole armor and fight (Eph. 6:10ff). We can do all things according to His will through Christ who gives us strength (Phil. 4:13).

Paul then begins to express his thankfulness for all that God has done (v.12ff). God sent Jesus to save us from sin. Now we, who have been translated into the kingdom of the Son of His love, are partakers of the Father’s inheritance. We have many reasons to live the Christian life, but foremost is the love of God for saving our souls and giving us a home in heaven someday.

Paul has provided us with many great lessons about prayer in this short passage. He listed specific reasons why he was thankful for the brethren, he listed specific requests he had made to God on their behalf, and he listed specific reasons we should be thankful to God for the redemption found in Christ Jesus. We also learn that the brethren in Colossae had many wonderful character traits that are to be emulated. Let us all strive to be people who demonstrate our faith, love, hope and fruitfulness. Let us all strive to be people who are thankful to God for our brethren as they bear fruit. Let us all be a people who go to God on behalf of our brethren. Let us not cease to pray.