Praying God's Will

Colossions 1

As I read through this chapter I kept thinking about what a true friend Paul must have been.  Not just a true friend, but a Godly friend.  Just listen to the words in verses 9 & 10… “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”  What a prayer for another person, basically Paul is praying that these people find the God that he has found and that they are filled with as much of God as possible.  He is not just praying for their safety, for their health, or for blessings upon them.  His prayer, his words to God go much deeper than what the human eye can see.  He is praying for God’s will and if that means suffering so that they can become closer to God, then so be it.  I pray for people all the time, sometimes it’s because someone has asked me to and sometimes it is random people that God has laid on my heart, but most of the time it is specific to a need, usually a physical need.  I see that there is no greater need than to draw closer to God---to be filled with the knowledge of his will, to be given spiritual wisdom and understanding.  I can’t help but think of the time when God spoke to me while I was praying so intently for my brother when he was so sick---He spoke so clearly to my heart and let me know that my family and friends that did not know him were in worse condition than Eddie and that I should be praying for them even harder.  I know I tend to pray for the needs that I see, but praying for people the way Paul did can impact everyone more than I could ever imagine.  So tonight as I pray I desire to be a Godly friend and pray for my family and friends the way Paul prayed for the people at Colossae.  Praying God’s will can be the hardest thing we do, but it is also the greatest prayer we can pray.