Prayer, What Do I Say?

We're almost done with our first week of the Good Morning Girls study through Colossians, and this week we've been looking at the beginning verses. Paul is telling the believers of Colossae that he's been keeping them in prayer, and OH what a prayer! 

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

³ We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ⁴ since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;⁵ because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel ⁶ which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; ⁷ just as you learned it fromEpaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,⁸ and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

⁹ 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, ¹⁰ 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;¹¹ strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, ^for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Hope laid up in heaven. 

Bearing fruit.

Increasing in Him.

Filled with His knowledge and wisdom.

Not ceasing to pray.

Walk in a manner worth of the Lord.

Pleasing Him.

Attaining steadfastness and patience.

Joyfully giving thanks to God, because He qualified us. 

Wow. And wow. 

I've not been the most consistent prayer for those I should be covering in prayer. Heck, I don't even pray for myself or my situations with consistency. It's really struck me seeing how Paul pray's for these people, many (most) of whom he's never met, but only heard about. He is a diligent prayer, and he pray's with great wisdom for their needs. I've been convicted to follow his example. 

Sometimes I don't know WHAT to pray for, but Paul, once again, gives great ideas and examples in the letters to the churches, that we call can follow. Everyone can do with prayers to grow closer to God, to gain in His wisdom, to be joyful because of His mercy and grace of the cross. Not one person would go amiss with prayers like that. 

So those have been my marching orders! :) 

PS. I'm in a leadership group on Facebook for the Good Morning Girls study, and one of the lovely gals shared how she was using note cards to pray for her group. I've followed her example, and done the same for those in my group, as well as those who come to mind. Sometimes it's hard to keep straight who needs prayer for what, but in writing it down, it's easier for me. Also, it's a great way to share in the excitement of answered prayers! :)