When a brother falls to sin, it is natural for us to pass prayer requests and take time to lift them up in prayer. Of course, that is a good thing and should be done. But what if we were praying for that person before they faltered?
The Lord commands us to edify one another. This literally means to build one another up. God doesn’t tell us to pray for people just when they are faltering, He just tells us to pray for one another.
Colossians 1 gives a great biblical example of how it is clearly Biblical to pray for even Christians who appear to be doing well. In Chapter 1, Paul says that he has heard of the believers at Colosse. He heard of their salvation, and their love to others. And more than this, He heard of their spiritual fruit that they have had since they first got saved.
In other words, these people accepted Christ and immediately began showing love to one another. They continued to grow in Christ and show the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Then Paul says, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” Did you catch that? Paul is happy that they’re saved, and that their growing, but he knows that it does not stop there. He wants them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will!
I think it is important to note that Paul was praying for Christians who had not done anything amiss. They weren’t falling to sin, facing great temptation, or even experiencing great trial. They were prospering in Christ! And he was praying for them. -always and without ceasing.
I challenge you to take a look around at those people in your life who look like they don’t need prayer. And pray for them. They need to grow in Christ just as much as anybody. Let’s take an aggressive view on spiritual growth.
Take some time today, and pray for someone who appears to need it the least. Pray that God would grow them, and fill them with the knowledge of his will. Pray whatever the Lord lays on your heart.
Let’s not pray only for the wounded, but also for the strong.
For it is God which worketh in you, 