As with many of his letters, Paul begins his letter to the Colossians with thanksgiving and prayer. All of Paul’s written exhortations for these churches flow out of his love and concern for them, which is really an expression of God’s love. As Paul gives thanks he is connecting with the reality of God’s goodness and power. And, as he prays, he is connecting with what God wants to say and do. Real intercessory prayer is not us asking God for what we think someone else needs. True intercessory prayer flows from us getting in touch with what God wants for someone else. Paul is unique in his apostolic role, in that what he writes is foundational for the church of all time and is uniquely authoritative. However, what he is doing is also what God wants us to do, too, in each specific area of need that we encounter. God wants us to get in touch with what he is already doing in a situation and also what he wants to do. He wants us to celebrate what he is doing and intercede for what he wants to do. In Ephesians 6:18 Paul tells us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions” and this is what it means to do that. Knowing what God is doing does not mean understanding the whole picture – we are only given to know as much as God wants us to respond to. God’s will for all people, of all time, is revealed in scripture. But how this should specifically apply in any given situation is something we need spiritual wisdom and guidance to recognise.
Choose a person to pray for and apply what I have said.
Read Colossians 1:1-14
