The Daily Guide
A passion for prayer
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Colossians 4:12 - NKJV
Paul singles out Epaphras to credit him for his labours in prayer. I'm excited by this. J.B. Phillips translates Paul's praise of him this way, "He has a real passion for your welfare." This is why Epaphras was so tireless in his prayers - he had a real passion for the welfare of those he was praying for! This is what we need. We need to get a real passion for the welfare of those God is calling us to pray for.
Praise God for Epaphras! And praise God for all those who are willing to follow his example! They lay down their lives in prayer so others may be able to grow in Christ. Epaphras prayed with great zeal for the believers of his church and for two other churches besides! His heart was set towards seeing that they could "stand fast, mature in faith, firm in their convictions, always engaged in doing the will of God". (From Barclay's translation.)
Where are you going to get a passion like this from in your life? It will come from an urging in your heart which arises because the love of Christ has come into your heart. It will come as you are moved with compassion for those you're praying for. You need to connect on the inside with what they are going through and yearn for their release. Visualise within yourself the life and liberty in Christ they are created to live in. See the shortfall - the distance between them and that glory - and pray for it to be made up.
Pray for others fervently
Copyright © 2006 P.F. (Simon) Measures
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