Praying With Your Mind Set On Heaven
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."1
We belong to Christ, and our home is not of this world. But do our prayers reflect that? The Lord wants us to tell Him about our day and bring our petitions to Him, but He also wants us to pray for the salvation of others and for the spiritual growth of His children.
Let's look at Paul's prayers. They were Christ-centered, and he also prayed for people coming to know God, follow Him, and obey Him. The apostle longed for the Colossian believers to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding and to walk worthily. “I pray that they would please the Lord, be fruitful, and grow in the knowledge of God.” Finally, he asked that they be strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit and demonstrate great endurance and patience. Our God delights in answering such prayers, because they are all part of what He desires for us.
Paul wasn't ignoring people's physical and emotional needs. On the contrary, he knew that God's answers to these prayers in Colossians 1 were the believers' way of triumphing in trials. Then they would have the strength to persevere and bear good witness. I encourage you to take the necessary steps now so that your prayer life is more focused on the things of Heaven than on Earth.
Suggested Prayer: Dear Father, I thank you that I have direct access to you. I ask you to please help me, so that my prayers reflect that my mind is set on Heaven - my eternal home. I ask you to fill me with wisdom and spiritual understanding to please you at all times. I pray that my prayer life will reflect your heart, as I pray for others. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, Amen.
1. Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.