Daily Devotional

In the early years of my Christian life, my prayers had a ring of the “too familiar,” even bordering on being monotonous. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned us about using many hollow words and vain repetition when praying. I was guilty of both.

However, my prayer life changed when I began praying for people by name, using the words of Scripture. I especially love some of the heartfelt prayers of the apostle Paul. My favorite example is his prayer in Colossians 1:9–12. Let’s try it together,  supplying the name of a loved one:
 
(e.g., On my refrigerator, I have a list of almost a hundred of my family members…)

 “I have not ceased to pray for you (add a name) and to ask that you may…
 

• be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.
• be filled with all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
• walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
• please Him in all respects.
• bear fruit in every good work.
• increase in the knowledge of God.
• be strengthened with all power.
• be strengthened according to His glorious might.
• grow in steadfastness and patience.
• live a life joyously giving thanks to the Father who qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Amen.

 
 Now on to praying through many other portions of Scripture. It will transform our prayer lives and bless our lives.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation