Seeking God’s will through prayer

(Colossians 4:2-4)

Oddly enough I have had the subject of prayer come up quite a lot just recently. So this post on seeking God’s will through prayer-based upon this verse in Colossians chapter 4 is quite timely.

This scripture today gives us some important information about seeking God’s will in prayer. It tells us how we should pray, what we might ask for, and the necessity to pray regularly both for ourselves and others.

Intercessory prayer is important as the voices of many go forth to God in supplication for the things that may be needed by one or many. So remember to always consider others and to keep them in your prayers.

Be steadfast as you are seeking God’s will through prayer

The first thing we see in these verses is that we need to be steadfast in our prayers. This is what the scripture says:

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; 3 and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, 4 that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2-4)

Paul exhorts us to be steadfast in our prayers. We are to pray constantly and not neglect to pray to God for all things and in all situations.

Are things going badly? Then pray to the Lord for deliverance. Are things going well? Then pray to the Lord and give thanks. Are there things that you need resolved? Then pray to the Lord for His intervention. Do you lack insight or understanding into the word? Then pray to God seeking His insight, and He will give it for He has promised that those who seek will find.

Whatever situation you find yourself in, pray. God wants us to have a conversation with Him. He wants to hear us speak to Him and bring to Him all of the highs and lows of this life, and He wants to help us through these things.

This is how we are to be steadfast by seeking God’s will through prayer.

So get into the habit of seeking God’s will in prayer and putting all of your life before Him.

In fact, stop reading right now, close your eyes and bow your head and speak to God about whatever is upon your heart or mind. Think about what was written above and any issues or blessings you have, go to God in prayer over them.

Be watchful while you are seeking God’s will in prayer

The second thing we see in this scripture today is to be watchful.

This is a good idea all of the time, but especially in these days as the second coming of our Lord and Saviour approaches. We don’t know when He is coming, but He gave us signs to indicate when His return would be imminent. We are seeing those signs beginning to unfold before our eyes.

So while it is always important to be watchful, it has never been more important than now. And that’s not just me saying so…the Lord said the same.

When Jesus prophesied of the signs leading up to His second coming, He told His disciples to watch, as we see in this section of scripture:

32 “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch therefore–for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning– 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.” (Mark 13:32-37)

Four times in that short section of scripture Jesus told us to be on the watch. So it is clear that we must be watchful as we are seeking God’s will through prayer. He wants His people to know what is going on. So He gives us understanding and insight concerning the events and issues in these times. But we need to be on the lookout for the signs and watch.

Interceding for others while seeking God’s will through prayer

The final part of these verses is where Paul is asking the church of the Colossians to pray for him. He is asking them to intercede to God through prayer on his behalf that the Lord will open doors and expand the reach of the ministry to declare Christ.

Clearly those prayers were fulfilled because here we are today still learning and being affected by the reach of the ministry of Paul. His words have reached across two millennia down to this day teaching us about seeking God’s will in prayer.

And it is right to seek prayers in many places for the things that are needed. We can go to others to support us in prayer as we go through this life. And it also becomes a great blessing, thanksgiving, and a testimony to all when those prayers get answered. This is also mentioned in the scripture:

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers. (2 Corinthians 1:11)

It has often been said that you can’t get too much prayer. And it is true. Furthermore, when those prayers are answered let us also share the testimony of God’s provision, insight, intervention, or support so that many can give thanks.

Testimonies of God’s help are a great encouragement to all, especially in dark days as we are in at this time with this global pandemic. Seeking God’s will through prayer can lead to a great testimony of the power of God to change, protect, and save lives in these days, and we can worship and praise Him for this with thanksgiving.

So pray always and in all situations giving thanks to God. Pray for your own personal needs and also for the needs of others. And never forget to give God thanks in all situations.

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