During Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, a man named Epaphras was converted and carried the gospel message to Colosse. The church that had developed there, was struggling with opposition from false teachers.

Paul prayed regularly for all believers in the many areas where the gospel had spread. In this letter, to the church at Colosse, Paul thanks God for the church’s faith. This faith had produced a love for all believers and had stemmed from their hope in Christ Jesus. Paul knew the people didn't come up with this love of their own accord. He thanks God for it because God is the source of all virtues. (Colossians 1:3-14)

Faith rests on the past work of Christ. The Colossians had a firm belief in his saving work.
Love works in the present. They had a love for all believers, everywhere.
Hope anticipates the future. They were confident of God’s faithfulness.

Paul assured the Colossians he remembered them whenever he prayed. He asked God to fill them—to give them complete knowledge of his divine will through spiritual wisdom and understanding. This kind of wisdom and understanding doesn't come to us naturally. It comes only from God’s Holy Spirit. “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 9:10

With this wisdom and knowledge, the people would be able to please God and cease worrying about pleasing people. Paul prayed for their good works to bear eternal fruit and that they would live in such a way as to please God. He prayed this would enable them, to know God better. Biblical knowledge and wisdom produce practical godly living. The result is a life worthy of the Lord.

Paul prayed that they would be strengthened with all God’s glorious power, giving them endurance and patience. Power that overcomes resistance and does not succumb easily to suffering. Patience giving them self-restraint—not seeking retaliation.

Through all this, Paul prayed they would joyfully give thanks to their Heavenly Father, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Paul rarely prayed for physical needs. He consistently prayed for spiritual needs that reap eternal rewards.

I pray for my friends. You probably do, too. We pray for healing when there is an illness. We pray for strength and relief when there is a physical or financial difficulty. We pray for safety of our friends and family. We pray for many physical things-temporary needs.

What would happen if we regularly and consistently prayed for their spiritual needs?

• What if we asked God to fill them with spiritual wisdom and understanding, and that they would produce eternal fruit.
  
• What would happen if we prayed that God would give them endurance and patience in suffering?
  
• What if we prayed they would live in a way pleasing to God and would grow to know him better and better?
  
• When have I prayed for the eternal spiritual needs of my friends?

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