The Pattern of Powerful Prayer COLOSSIANS 1:9-10A

Praying effectively isn’t something we all naturally know how to do—for most Christians, it must be learned. In fact, one of the disciples who had walked with Jesus asked for help in this area (Luke 11:1).

So often we hear requests to bless, protect, and provide for a person. While these are fine to ask of the Lord, there is another, more powerful way to pray. When we speak to Him using Scripture, our conversation contains the authority of almighty God.

The apostle Paul wrote today’s passage to the Colossian church. From this, we know the specific requests he brought before God concerning his brothers. These are applicable to us today as well. Let’s focus on the first two requests today and the remaining four tomorrow.

First, Paul asked for the believers to understand God’s plan for their lives. Now, the Lord often does not reveal everything at once, but He gives seeking hearts enough information to trust and follow His way

Second, the apostle prayed that the Colossian Christians would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of Christ and pleasing to Him; Paul longed to see their lives prove consistent with their true spiritual identity. A follower of Jesus is evident to other people because of lifestyle and spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).

One of the greatest gifts we can give is to lift a person in prayer. And there is no more powerful way to do this than to speak Scripture on his or her behalf. Colossians 1:9-14 is a beautiful example of a passage to pray as we bring loved ones and ourselves before God’s throne.

This Far and No Further

This illness does not lead to death.

John 11:4

From our Lord’s words we learn that there is a limit to illness. Here is a “lead to” within which its ultimate end is restrained and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not to be the conclusion of his illness. In all illness the Lord says to the waves of pain, “You may go so far, but no further.” His fixed purpose is not the destruction but the instruction of His people. Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth and regulates the heat.

1. The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestined, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of Him who numbers the hairs of our head.

2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the purpose designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction is not haphazard—the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and stretching out the heavens commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients that compose the medicine of souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late.

3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. “He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.”¹ A mother’s heart cries, “Spare my child”; but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hardmouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driven with a sharper bit. The thought is full of comfort that He who has established the boundary lines of our lives has also determined the boundaries of our tribulation.

¹Lamentations 3:33