Pray for Us

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.
Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”  Colossians 4:2-6 NLT

Sometimes I just get “stuck.”  I don’t know what to pray for.  That’s why I have learned over the years to pray with my “Bible open” (either literally, or bringing back to mind the verses committed to memory).  Reading this passage forces me to think — do I ask others to pray that I will have lots of opportunities to share Christ with those who don’t know Him?  Do I ask God to open my eyes to see these opportunities all around me?

I had to confess and repent that often I will get on a plane or stand in a line and, instead, ask God, “for just a little peace and quiet, Lord.  I’m so tired.”  Paul didn’t just have an annoying medical condition — HE WAS IN PRISON!!!  He was asking the Colossian believers to pray that he would have opportunities to share Christ, and that he would be clear, gracious and attractive.  How selfish of me, to want to trade my temporary “peace and quiet” for someone else’s eternal destruction.

Lord, I do want to make the best use of every opportunity.  Sometimes you do want me to rest my voice and be quiet.  Sometimes, though, you want me to speak, to ask questions, to listen (which I can do with a sore voice or not) and to pray that someone will be radically changed by the wonderful gospel of Christ.  You are my redeemer; You saved me; I do want everyone to know that.