Please open your Bible and read:
(Colossians 1:9 – 14 )

We are a people belonging to the Lord, and our home is not of this world. For those reasons, our prayers must address kingdom concerns. We need to balance our requests for physical needs with prayers for salvation and the spiritual growth of God’s children.

Paul’s prayers were all Christ – centered and kingdom – related. He wanted both his fellow Jews and the Gentiles to trust Jesus as Savior. (Acts 17:2 – 4) His prayers for believers were directly tied to Christ and God’s kingdom plan. He desired that they know Jesus, pattern their lives after Him, and carry out God’s will. We would be wise to have the same goals.

The apostle’s prayers were also specific and in harmony with God’s will. He yearned for believers to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding, to know God’s will, and to walk in a worthy manner. He prayed they would please God, be fruitful, and increase in their knowledge of God.

Paul also asked that believers be strengthened with the Spirit’s power and display steadfastness and patience. Our God delights in answering similar prayers because they’re part of what He desires for us.

Finally, the apostle didn’t ignore the people’s physical and emotional needs. Instead, Paul knew God’s answers to these prayers in Colossians chapter one would bring believers victory over the situations facing them. They would have strength to persevere and to be good witnesses during difficult times.

Take steps to make your prayer life more heavenly – minded than earthly – bound. Start by praying today’s verses for yourself and people you know.

Question: How can we be sure that our prayers are “heavenly minded”?

About the Author: Dr. Charles Stanley

It occurs to me that the first fellowship group that ever formed around Christ is probably represented somewhere in your house right now. It has some common shepherds in peasants’ clothes, three princes in royal robes, a man and a woman holding a newborn baby, and a random assortment of farm animals seeking shelter in a run down barn. We have ours actually on the window sill in the dining room because there was no room for them in the inn (the living room, actually).

Together they constitute the first welcoming committee and, in a way, the first small group brought together by Jesus. They are the only people we know about, aside from Mary and Joseph and a handful of others, who had any clue what was going on with this miraculous birth. Angelic appearances had informed Mary, Joseph and the shepherds; the magi had deduced it from the stars.

They represented most likely Jews and Arabs, perhaps multiple races, numerous social class distinctions, different nationalities and religions, and a broad range of intellectual knowledge. And there they were gathered around Jesus, and the one thing they had in common is that they were all invited. They all heard from God. They were hand picked for the occasion. I wonder if you could call this the first small fellowship group.

Given that it was the first fellowship group, what do you suppose they talked about? I can imagine they talked about how they got there — what the angel said, how the stars were positioned in the sky, what the ancient books of knowledge indicated, or how their ears were still ringing from the angelic choir. They must have heard some of the story from Mary and Joseph and they would have been trying to put all the pieces together, while still left with plenty of pieces that didn’t fit. But most of all, I believe they were filled with wonder over why they were there and not someone else.

Today, we’re still gathering together around Jesus. We’re amazed that He invited us. We’re telling stories about how we came to know Him, and we’re talking a lot about how our lives have never been the same since. We’ve been thrown together from all walks of life with one thing in common. We, too, don’t have all the pieces together, but we are most amazed that among all the people in the world, He would choose us.

Question: Do you have a small group? Would it be beneficial to your own spiritual walk to find one, and also to share your own gifts with others?

About this Author: John Fischer