Need Prayer?

Colossians 4:2-4 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Some things change, some things remain the same. The older we get, the more we realize the depth of that statement. We begin to see more of the seasons of life, how things we got used to seemed to pass us by, seem to be gone with the “progress” of life, the growth around us, the passing and aging of time. We see those in our circles aging, we loose family members to health, we find ourselves trapped in bodies that cannot do what seemingly accomplished only a short time ago did. We see the busyness of time rob of us the precious commodity we begin to cherish more with each passing day. The older we get, we begin to grasp the urgency, frailty, and finality of our time in this life. Aging brings about wisdom, and we begin to value and invest more deeply in what truly matters in life, our investment in others.

What was the apostle Paul’s plea in the passage above as he was in prison in Rome? What was his plea, his request that he asked for help for? We all might think as anyone would, to get me out of prison! “Do whatever you can to get me out of here”! No, Paul asked for help to share his faith. Paul asked for prayer, he humbled himself and said, “I need help.” As Christians we should never be so proud, even so proud of our faith, that we do not humble ourselves and ask for help in any way, especially in prayer. James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Paul was pleading to be in the center of God’s will in this imprisonment; Paul wanted only the doors to be opened by God to share the gospel with those Roman guards. Paul understood how important it was to share his faith with a people group that had not heard it so clearly. Paul knew that God could do a mighty work through the confinements that Paul found himself. What choice would the guards have? They were likely chained to Paul, and with the answered prayers of God preparing their hearts, Paul must just boldly speak and watch God stir the hearts of those before him. Oh to us have the focus of Paul. What are you chained to that you have not proclaimed your faith to? Who do you see every day at school or work that does not know you are a Christian? Who have you not prayed for, and asked those to pray for you, that needs to hear about Jesus?

This walk through life comes in seasons. God lets you pass from one to another, and will ask you to give an account of each. My ministries have changed, just like the seasons of my life. This ministry has been replaced by another online ministry. We as a family have found a new church home, and see doors opening there. We as a family are embarking on a new adventure with a track-side prayer ministry, and look forward to seeing God work there. All of this has been, and still is, covered in prayer. We never want to move without God, but always want the opportunity such as Paul to be used by God. Why don’t you ask someone to pray for you?