For this reason also,
since the day we heard this,
we haven’t stopped praying for you.
We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Colossians 1:9

Imagine you were on staff at Camp Colosse in the year 61 A.D.

Wouldn’t it be cool to find out that Paul and Timothy stopped what they were doing and prayed for you as soon as they heard about some of your struggles and concerns? And the content of their prayers were so biblical. (Well yes, the record of what they prayed for actually became part of the Bible in verses 9-12.) Not only that, they continued to pray for you consistently throughout the whole summer.

Just think how encouraged you would feel and how effective their prayers would be! 

God desires for you to follow their example this summer in praying for one another. When you become aware of a need or when someone shares a difficulty with you, don’t just say, “I’ll keep you in my prayers.” Let’s be honest; sometimes we say this, but we forget to actually do it. If at all possible it’s usually better to say, “Can I pray for you right now?” You can do this anywhere at any time—sitting in the dining hall, walking across the field, or hanging out in the staff lounge. If you pray for your friend right then and there, you avoid the temptation to make promises that may go unfulfilled. 

Pausing to pray for a fellow staffer in the moment is seizing the opportunity to minister personally and express care to this person. If God is making you aware of an issue, quite possibly that indicates that God wants to use you to serve your friend—and most likely God wants that to occur right then. It communicates that the problem is worth taking immediate action and the real solution is found in God. 

Because of Jesus Christ we can be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and spiritual understanding. Jesus Christ can be present right here and right now, resulting in wisdom, comfort, peace, perspective, and trust.

Why don’t you pause and ask God right now to help you effectively pray for others throughout the rest of the summer?