A Prayer for You

My little children, Id like share with you a very special prayer that was prayed by Jesus' apostle, Paul. Even though Paul was being held prisoner in Rome, suffering punishment for preaching God's word, he was able to find time to write the church at Colosse. Here is his prayer:

1:9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 1:10 so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 1:13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul's prayer is an example of the way that we should pray for both ourselves and for others. We should not be asking God to fulfill every need that we think we might have, but rather asking God that he might fill us with knowledge of His will for us in all things spiritual.

God want us to live lives that make Him proud of us and we should pray that our every action honor Him.

By fully understanding the will God we are able to live in a manner that pleases God.

And that in understanding God's will we might:
1. bear fruit in every good deed,
2. grow in the knowledge of God, through reading His word,
3. gain strength that is manifested in endurance and patience,
4. and express our gratitude to God consistently.

We are also thankful that through God's grace (God's Riches At Christ's Expense) that:
1. He made us heirs of an inheritance in which we were qualified when we became Christians,
2. He delivered us from the realm of Satan,
3. He transfered us to the Kingdom of God.

Through Jesus' blood, we became freed from sin, receiving forgiveness from the Father.

Prayer adapted from Colossians 1:9-14
Father, I ask that You fill my loved ones with the knowledge of Your will, with all the wisdom and understanding that Your Spirit gives. Then they will be able to live as You want and will always do what pleases You. I pray that their lives will produce all kinds of good deeds, and that they will grow in knowledge of You. May they be made strong with all the strength which comes from Your glorious power, so that they may be able to endure everything with patience. And with joy I give thanks to You, who have made them fit to have their share of what You have reserved for Your people in the kingdom of light. You rescued them from the power of darkness and brought them safe into the kingdom of Your dear Son, by whom they are set free, that is, their sins are forgiven.

Who should pray this prayer and to whom should it be prayed for?

I will pray it each day for you, my little children. I hope that you will pray it for me.