First Baptist Church of Diana, Texas

The third key to praying powerfully is to be mindful of others when we pray. In Colossians 4:2-3, the Bible says not only to be devoted to prayer, but to also stay alert with an attitude of gratitude. Next Paul asks the Colossian church to pray for him and his cohort. Paul made no apology for this request but rather, connected the power of their prayers to his opportunity to preach the Gospel. Those of us in the ministry long for the undergirding of people interceding for us while we preach. While asking for prayers on his behalf, the apostle taught the principle of intercessory prayer and its importance in each of our lives. As we think about praying with a mind set on others, we can first think about the way it sets a posture for us to pray for others. Four attitudes can be considered that put us in the correct frame of mind to facilitate an agreement in with heaven in our heart that seems to unleash the power of heaven in our prayers.

1. In Philippians 1:3-7, the Bible says for us to pray joyfully for others. Here the Bible centers on two outcomes. a. He is joyful because they share in participation of the Gospel. b. He is joyful because he is trusting God to do a work in them.
2. In Romans 1:8, the Bible testifies of Paul’s example of thankfulness for others. a. He is thankful for their faith b. He is thankful for what God is doing their lives.
3. In Colossians 4:12-14, we see Epaphras labor in prayer for others. a. Epaphras prayed with a lot of effort – he toiled. b. Epaphras prayed in sincerity or earnestly.
4. In Matthew 9:34-36, we see Jesus’ concern for others. a. Weeping over the lostness of the people.

Praying for others who don’t know Christ opens up a vision of fellowship in the Gospel. When someone is far away from God and then comes near through salvation, the joy of fellowship we share is far and above other menial relationships. As I think back on those I have seen come to Christ over the years, I am reminded of how we rejoice together. If I can keep those memories etched in my mind as I pray for lost souls who are rebellious to God, to the things of God, and maybe even the people of God, I can then pray for them with joy based on faith that God will work in their lives.

Few events in this world bring more joy to the believer than when he sees God do a work in another person. If that person is family or friend the joy climbs even higher. Let us pray joyfully as we think of others.

Being truly thankful for people can especially change our attitudes in prayer. We are challenged to pray for our politicians if they are not the candidate that we voted to win. The test is if we can be thankful for their courage and even the things with which we agree. If I am thankful for my opposition in ideals or purpose, I can pray for them in a more meaningful way. To be ungrateful is a slap in the face of the Lord understanding it takes no more of God’s grace to forgive them than it did for each of us.

We are to labor in prayer as Epaphras labored for the Colossians. To labor surely means to exert energy as in work. It requires our minds, our spirits, and even our physical resources. Part of the labor we use to serve God is used up in praying for others. As I think about most labors, I remember that it requires concentration and most usually a knowledge or skill. Let us labor in prayer for others.

Jesus demonstrated his concern for others as He prayed for them and has he wept for them. His greatest demonstration was his death, burial, and resurrection. Stephen reflected this attribute of the Lord as he preached a martyrs message. Many were saved, but it cost Stephen his life. Paul reflected this same attribute of Christ as he prayed for his fellow Jews to be saved. Let us pray in a way that is concerned about others.

These four attitudes guard us from praying with vengeance against unbelievers and from developing a judgmental attitude. God save us from letting our own prejudice and judging hearts prevent us from praying in power.

Humans are prone to prejudice and judgmental hearts. Sometimes it is difficult for Christians to pray with joy, with thankfulness, with diligence in labor, and with deep concern for those who are caught in the devil’s snare of homosexuality, in pagan religions, or a host of other snares we may see as abomination. We must understand that while God does view some actions as abomination, His grace is sufficient for all sin.

The third key to a powerful prayer life found in Colossians 4:2 is a heart of gratitude. You will notice in the text that Paul says for them to pray “in an attitude of thanksgiving.” Praying with thanksgiving was at the core of Paul’s teachings on prayer and in the center of his practice of prayer. He speaks of always praying with thanksgiving and in everything, give thanks.

E.M. Bounds says, “Thanksgiving is but the expression of an inward, conscious gratitude to God for mercies received. “ Luke 6:45 says that our mouths speaks from that which fills our heart. In order to give thanks with our mouths, we must have gratitude in our hearts. Bounds goes on to say, “gratitude arises from a contemplation of the goodness of God. It is in this way that our gratitude becomes the platform on which we stand that gives glory to God.

What really happens when God’s people pray with an attitude of gratitude?

1. Their heart and minds are protected through the intervention of God by the peace of God. This is the same God of peace who settled the minds of the three Hebrew children in a Babylonian furnace. This was the same protection of the peace of God that protected Daniel from the Lion. This is the same peace of God that can protect you from the furnaces and lions of this age. This is the word that says be still and know that I am God. This is the word that says it is the peace that passes all understanding. This is the peace that Stephen had as he preached before those who would stone him to death.

One of the greatest benefits of a grateful heart is also a peaceful heart. Philippians 4:6-7 proclaims the protection of God on the hearts of those who will pray making requests known with thanksgiving in their hearts. Did you catch hold of the gravity in that statement? Hearts and minds are protected by the intervention of Almighty God when man develops a grateful heart.

2. God gets the glory and it gets contagious.

2 Corinthians 4:15 reminds us that the continual spreading of the grace of God causes thanksgiving to abound which results in glory being given to God. When God receives his place of glory in our daily lives, we are enabled to live in peace. Not only are we able to live in peace, those around us become infected with the continual awareness of the presence, power, and glory of God.

Let us strive for an attitude of Gratitude.

The material printed on this blog flows out of our Wednesday night services.  On Wednesday February 10, 2010, the Wednesday night services at First Baptist Church consisted of a special called business meeting for the purpose of contracting with an architectural firm for the development of a master plan, for designing a renovation of the existing educational building, and for following through with the construction of the designed renovation.  The discussion lasted for close to an hour and was a healthy exchange of questions from the congregation and dissemination of information from our Long Range
Planning team.

 This business meeting will likely go down in the history of FBC as one with a large impact on the future of the church.  It is true that it is only one more step in the journey. It is also true that some steps require more faith and have longer lasting significance than other steps.  It seems to me that decisions made last evening symbolize steps that will have long lasting significance.

 What an exciting time to be involved in God’s work through First Baptist Church.  Keep on praying, expecting, and believing.  The Lord has much to show us and many to touch.

The second key to open the door to a prayer life filled with the power and fullness of God comes in Paul’s second exhortation in Colossians 4:2 when he says “keep alert in it.” This translation is the New American standard and it refers to the first phrase which is “devote yourselves to prayer.”  Literally he is saying, in the middle of your devoted prayer life, keep on being alert.

A logical conclusion immediately comes to mind.  Keeping alert will take a conscious decision and there will be those things which will try to keep us from being alert. Of course anyone who spends time in serious prayer knows of the distractions that come along to divert our attention. Perhaps if the distractions are identified, we will be better equipped to walk in the victory of Christ Jesus.

I believe the enemy trembles when God’s people are serious about their prayer lives. For that reason alone I believe he saves some of his strongest temptations during times of prayer. It seems as though his methods are all so similar, he appeals through our mental capacities, through our physical bodies, and through our flesh or carnality.

The mind. The word used for keeping alert in Col. 4:2 is also used in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 as the opposite of sleep and drunkenness. There the Bible says, “so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”  We will think of this in two ways. First we must think in terms of a clear mind.  There is often a continual struggle in intense prayer for control of the mind. The solution appears to be in the determination we have to keep our minds focused on spending time with Jesus. The mind can be controlled through discipline just as any other facet of humanity. Be aware and be ready for distractions in the mind – keep alert.

1. Second, 1 Thess. 5:6 reminds us of our physical limitations. The body will grow tired and desire to drift off. Sleep may pull at your eyes. Your body may cry out for rest. Perhaps your senses will take over and tell you of your discomfort due to heat or cold. Your stomach may tell you about your hunger.  This is connected to the mind for it is through the mind that the body alerts you of such things. Again – discipline is the key. Keep alert. You can endure slight discomforts if you concentrate in prayer.
2. The flesh or the carnality of mankind. Praying of the kind we are looking for in this study requires one to walk in the spirit. Paul liked to use the term in the spirit and is probably referring to the same thing John was talking about when he quoted Jesus commanding us to abide in Christ. To walk in the Spirit or to remain in Christ, we must be exercising spiritual disciplines through a personal walk with Christ. We must be in the Scripture, not to seek some knowledge, but to seek Christ. We must be practicing prayer and worship through a desire to be with Christ and in Christ not just to mark it off our good Christian check list. Of course, staying confessed up is also essential. If we are not walking with Christ or if we have known sin for which we have not repented and confessed openly to the Lord, we will be distracted from powerful prayer lives. In such cases, our flesh will be pushing back the Spirit.

Do you have difficulties with distractions in prayer? Perhaps it is a need for personal discipline or perhaps you need to deal with known sin. I pray right now for all who may read this blog, that you will overcome the things that distract you from a vibrant and powerful time of prayer with our Lord. If you are new to reading blogs, you may not know that you can register comments.  Just click on the link below that says “No comments” or lists a number beside the word comment such as “1 Comment” and you may write comments that will be seen by all who visit.