“… that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12 ESV)
Do you have trouble formulating prayers for others when there is no specific need to focus on?
Do you feel that your prayers for others seem scattered with no definite purpose or direction?
Epaphras provides an example for all believers in his love and prayers for the Colossians and fellow Christians in nearby cities.
Can we pray for our fellow believers in our congregation, and in congregations elsewhere, “that they may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God”?
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. (Ephesians 4:12 ESV)
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:5-6 ESV)
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35ESV)
And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. (Mark 6:46 ESV)
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:14 ESV)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42 ESV)
