Throughout Paul’s letters, we find many prayers for the church. Paul had a pastor’s heart and prayed for Christ’s people constantly. We can learn from his example the kinds of thanksgivings and prayers that should be on our hearts when we pray for our church and other churches.
In Colossians 1:3–14, we find an example of a thanksgiving and prayer that Paul prayed for the church in Colossae. Here are seven key points that can inform our prayers for our congregation.
1. Thank God for the faith and love of his people (Col 1:3–4).
We should constantly be thanking God for those among us who have truly trusted in Christ and are loving his people. Each believer is a reason for thanksgiving. The gospel has so worked in our hearts that we have trusted in Jesus for life and salvation. We should thank God for his work in us that has produced faith and love.
2. Thank God for those serving faithfully in the church (Col 1:7–8).
Paul mentions that the Colossians heard the gospel from Epaphras and considers him a faithful servant. Our prayers should be filled with thanksgiving for those who serve faithfully for the sake of the gospel.
3. Pray that our church would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will so that we would live in a way pleasing to him (Col 1:9–10).
When Paul prays for a knowledge of God’s will, he’s not so much asking for wisdom for major life decisions. He’s asking that God would give them a knowledge of his revealed will in Scripture that would enable them to live godly lives in Christ. We should pray that God would give us a deeper knowledge of his will so that we can live holy lives that match what we say we believe. By God’s grace, we can live worthy of the Lord. Not through our own efforts or merits, but because of his Spirit working in us. We should pray for one another that we would grow in our knowledge of God’s will so that we might please God in our daily lives.
4. Pray that our church would be fruitful in good works (Col 1:10).
Another result of knowing God’s will is bearing the fruit of good works. When we do what God says, we obey him. Good fruit looks like good works. So, we should pray that our church would be zealous for good works that are the fruit of our faith.
5. Pray that our church would grow in our knowledge of God (Col 1:10).
When we know God’s will, we also grow to know our God. One of our chief desires for ourselves and one another should be that we would know our God more and more.
6. Pray that our church would be strengthened according to God’s power for patient, joyful endurance (Col 1:11).
Another aim of being filled with a knowledge of God’s will is strength to endure with joyful patience. We all face challenges, trials, and temptations. We need strength to endure joyfully and patiently. We should pray for those going through challenges that God would strengthen them with his power that they might endure with joy.
7. Pray that our church would be ever thankful to God for his grace in saving us from the darkness and bringing us into the kingdom of his Son as heirs with God’s people (Col 1:12–13).
The final aim of knowing God’s will is thankfulness for our new identity as saints in Christ’s kingdom. We have been delivered from the darkness! We are redeemed and forgiven through Jesus! We should pray that our church would never lose our sense of deep gratitude for who we are now in Jesus. We should pray that the amazing grace of God would never tire us or bore us. We should pray for hearts brimming with thankfulness for what God has done among us through Jesus.
This prayer of Paul is a powerful jumpstart to our own prayers for each other. We would do well in returning to these kinds of prayers again and again and praying them for our church.
