Devotional - June 24, 2026
Scripture: Colossians 1:9 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.
Believe it or not there are a lot of people that love to pray and that is good. Staying open before God, confessing, and offering prayers of intercession is good for your relationship with God and your very own soul (Philippians 4: 6-7). Others, leave the praying to ...others. They don't pray themselves, but will silently pray along with others who recite the prayer. That isn't to say they don't "pray" in their own way. Their actions and behavior are their prayers. Without acting on the things of God, our prayers are meaningless. Yet, we need to strike a balance between our words and deeds. James discusses this issue in depth in James 2: 14-26. Our Lord instructs us to go in private and pray to God (Matthew 6:6). To simply act without prayer can leave us vulnerable. Our actions may be based on our impulses and feelings. They are our reaction, not responce, to a situation. Taking the issue to God and letting God give us guidance can save us, and the situation, from a lot of unwanted results. Today, Paul tells the Colossian church that they pray continually for them. How does that help? There is no clear understanding of why this is honored by God. Yet, when we pray, lovingly, for others, even our enemies, God is pleased. How God responds is God's domain, but most of us can testify that it has an effect on the situation. It can change us, the situation, or both. Many of us have been brought low a time or two in our lives and honestly, we did not know how to pray. But the Spirit of God interceded for us (Romans 8: 26-27), along with the prayers of others, and we felt what it feels like to walk on water spiritually. Not by our own efforts, but by the prayers of those who love us, and care about us, enough to lift our situation to God. Sometimes, folks will hear me pray for those no one prays for. Guess what, there are many who fall into this category. You may take it for granted that someone is praying for you because you are a part of a Christian community. But there are many, who are not. Never hesitate to take note of someone you see struggling. Your prayer does not have to be long or noticeable, but lift them in prayer. I know many of you do that already. Know your prayers are heard by God. And, keep on praying ...!
Pray with me..., Holy God we are thankful that we can pray and that You hear our prayers. Help us to pray in faith knowing You respond, regardless of what we see. Hear us, as we pray for our loved ones. We ask Your blessing upon them and those they represent. Bless them according to their needs. And, we ask Your blessing on our church, so we can be the people, You call us to be, in Jesus' name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
