Good morning people who pray for power to proclaim the gospel of Jesus.

Colossians 4:3-4 NIV And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Paul was in prison and he asked the church to pray for him. I would think that asking the church to pray that he gets out of prison would be a great starting point. But he does not ask for this.

Paul knew that the purpose of prayer was not to get what he wants for himself, but for him to do the will of His Father who is in heaven.

So, Paul prays for an opportunity. Not an opportunity to avenge the ones who beat him severely and imprisoned him unjustly. But he asked the church to pray that God may open a door for him to preach the gospel!

And then he goes a step further by saying it is the very gospel that put him in chains in the first place! Paul wants to have an opportunity to proclaim the mystery of Christ to the ones who are persecuting him because he has proclaimed the mystery of Christ!

I wonder if our prayers are often misguided. I wonder if our prayers are often self-centred. I wonder if our prayers are often powerless because we are not praying for or asking others to pray for what is actually on Father’s heart.

I sit here meditating deeply. I am stirred and I am challenged by what Father is highlighting to me about the focus of our prayers and the focus of our prayer requests.

Speak Lord, we are listening.