Prayer

I think the early Church would be utterly shocked by our prayer requests. Not for what they contain, it's good and right to bring all things before the Lord in prayer. We go through many struggles in this world; relationships, tragedy, health, our occupation ...

However it's likely what they don't contain that would cause their shock, and perhaps what we viewed most important ...

As I'm going through the epistles (New Testament Letters) I continue to see what should be at the heart of our prayer, especially when it relates to ourselves and others. Here is just one of many examples ...

Paul, closing out his letter to the Colossians, sends his final greetings. A simple passing phrase, buried in his list of names is Epaphras, a fellow Colossian. It mentions how he (Epaphras) has been praying for the church.

How might you think? Their struggling health issues? Perhaps to save them from the oppression they face? Maybe even praying for resources and support to build the church? Not quite ...

'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. ' - Colossians 4:12

Do you clearly see the shift in focus of the prayer? It's not for temporal, external things. It's passionate (struggling), interceding (on your behalf), prayer ... pleading to God that they may stand strong ... and feel the assurance of their God for HIS will, not their own.

Do you pray like this?

     We must ... 

Passionate ... Intercessory... and Christ focused ... 

Let us not walk through this life, full of trials and challenges, missing out on what God has to offer us in communion with Him. Ask for the loaf of bread, as for the healing, but most of all just ask for Him.

His,
~Matt