Praying for Each Other

Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9–13 offers a profound model for how believers should pray for one another. Rooted in the Reformed Protestant tradition, this passage calls us to intercede not just for physical needs but, more importantly, for spiritual growth and maturity within the body of Christ.

Paul’s Pattern of Intercessory Prayer

Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is marked by several distinct features:

• He prays for people he has never met personally, demonstrating the church’s unity and the importance of praying for all believers, not just those in our immediate circle.
• His prayers are unceasing, showing a disciplined, regular commitment to intercession.
• The content of his prayer is deeply spiritual, focusing on God’s will, wisdom, fruitfulness, strength, and gratitude, rather than merely earthly concerns.

What Should We Pray For? (Colossians 1:9–13)

Paul’s requests in this passage can be summarized as follows:

1. Knowledge of God’s Will
   Pray that others would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so they may discern how to live in a way that pleases God.
2. A Worthy Walk
   Ask God to help fellow believers live lives worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every respect, and reflecting Christ in their conduct.
3. Fruitfulness in Good Works
   Intercede for others to bear fruit in every good work, making an eternal impact in their families, workplaces, and communities.
4. Growth in the Knowledge of God
   Pray that they would continually grow in their relationship with God, deepening in faith and understanding.
5. Strength for Endurance and Patience
   Ask for God’s power to strengthen them with endurance and patience, especially through trials and challenges.
6. Joyful Thanksgiving
   Pray that their lives would overflow with gratitude to the Father for the salvation and inheritance they have in Christ.
7. Remembrance of Redemption
   Thank God for delivering us from darkness and transferring us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, reminding one another of the spiritual reality and hope we share in Christ.

Practical Examples of Praying for Each Other

Here are some ways to apply Paul’s prayer in everyday life:

• For a Friend Facing a Difficult Decision: “Lord, fill my friend with the knowledge of Your will and grant them spiritual wisdom and understanding. Help them discern what pleases You in this situation.”
• For a Church Member Struggling with Discouragement: “Father, strengthen them with Your glorious power so they may have endurance and patience. Let their heart be filled with joyful thanks, remembering Your faithfulness and the hope of their inheritance in Christ.”
• For a New Believer: “God, help them to grow in the knowledge of You. May their life bear fruit in every good work, and may they walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing You in all things.”
• For the Church as a Whole: “Lord, make us a people who are filled with the knowledge of Your will. Empower us to live lives that honor You, to serve others, and to give thanks for the redemption we have in Christ.”

Why Pray This Way?

Praying according to Colossians 1:9–13 keeps our focus on God’s purposes rather than our own desires. It reminds us that our greatest need is spiritual transformation, not just relief from earthly troubles. Such prayers foster unity, deepen our love for one another, and help us grow as disciples who reflect Christ to the world.

“Spiritual growth means growing to know how God wants us to live so that we seek to please Him in all things.”

By making these prayers a regular part of our intercession, we participate in God’s work of sanctification in the lives of others and ourselves, following the example set by Paul and, ultimately, by Christ Himself.

Let us, then, pray for each other with depth, consistency, and a focus on God’s glory - trusting that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion.