Colossians 4:4-5; Ephesians 6:10-20 – Praying for Opportunities
It is right and proper that Christians should pray for one another (Eph. 6:18; James 5:16, 1 Tim 2:1). One constant theme in Paul’s letters is his concern to pray for his fellow believers, especially for their growth in grace and in Christian character Col. 1:9 – 12.
There is a considerable difference between the way that Paul prayed for believers and also for what he asked them to pray for on his behalf than we so often experience in our own church circles. Our praying is so often materialistic in that we pray for health, success in exams, good weather and such like. Not that it is wrong to pray for such things, but they are largely absent from Paul’s prayers, where the emphasis is more directly spiritual.
When Paul asks prayer for himself, it is not that he would be released from prison nor even that his imprisonment should be less onerous; he requests prayer that he might have opportunities to preach the gospel and that he would be given the ability to make it clear to those to whom he spoke.
Paul’s desire was for the spread of the gospel of Christ. He places no conditions on how this was to be achieved; he merely asks to be presented with an open door, whether that was to be the open door of the prison or the opportunity to speak to somebody about Christ.
We should also pray this for ourselves, for the minister of the Word and for our fellow believers, not just that we will be given opportunities to witness, but that we might have the boldness to take the opportunities presented and the ability to be able to present the truth in a clear and gracious way.
Questions
- Think about the opportunities that are presented to you each day to speak for the Lord and consider how you may best use those opportunities.
Prayer Points
- Pray that you would take the opportunities God gives you.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.