Praying Blindfolded

Colossians 1:9-14 New International Version (NIV)

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,^[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

How do we pray for someone we don't know, like missionaries across the globe? How do we lift up politicians to God and pray for them when we not only don't know them personally, we don't always understand what they are up against, the challenges they face? This is where the Holy Spirit comes alongside and using the words from Colossians 1:9-14, guides our prayers. 

It isn't necessary to have a personal relationship with the person we are praying for. We only need a personal relationship with Jesus. We can pray as though blindfolded, moving forward boldly because there is the Holy Spirit to guide us. The yellow highlighted texts above list a few of the things we can pray about for those strangers we are called to pray for. 

These are things we could all use more of in our lives. Let's pray for one another, even if we have never met.

Colossians 1:9-14

“But our citizenship is in heaven.”

Philippians 3:20-21

“But our citizenship is in heaven.” It is good to be reminded of this fact isn’t it? The 24 hour news cycle, social media, busy lives … often cause us to forget this essential truth. We can become totally absorbed by the things of “this world” and be overwhelmed by all that we are exposed to.

Through the scriptures God calls us to live differently. In 1 Peter 1:17 Peter refers to us as “strangers here” and in 1 Peter 2:11 he identifies us as “strangers and aliens in the world”. This supports Paul’s statement in today’s reading regarding our citizenship.

So how do we live as citizens of heaven? Certainly worship, prayer, the sacraments, and fellowship are essential elements of living out our faith. But our minds and God’s word also play a significant role. In Philippians 3:19 the last sentence describes those who are opposed to the faith. Paul states, “Their mind is on earthly things.”

Contrast this with Romans 12:2 where Paul challenges believers to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”, or Jesus’ words in Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength”. What do we allow into our mind? What do we think about? What do we talk about? Reading, hearing, studying, and memorizing God’s word are key practices that can help us live as citizens of heaven. Of course, we cannot do this on our own, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Let’s challenge each other as brothers and sisters to live out our faith by demonstrating our true citizenship. What a witness for Jesus we could become if we would follow this practice in today’s culture. As encouragement we only need to refer to today’s reading where Paul states that “we eagerly await a Savior from there (heaven), the Lord Jesus Christ…”.  Let’s celebrate our true citizenship in the days and weeks ahead.

A New Way To Help, Luke 7:11-17

Has your heart ever gone out to a stranger? Can you think of a time when you helped someone you didn’t know and they hadn’t even asked for your help? You just saw they had great need and so you gave them a hand. We can all think of times when we have helped a friend or even a stranger who asked for help but have you stopped and gave to the silently needy.

I hope I’m not putting you on the spot today. I was just struck in a new way with today’s scripture. Luke says that as Jesus is entering a town called Nain he sees a widow who is now burying her only son and his heart goes out to her. Jesus turns to the woman and says, “Don’t cry” he then tells the boy to get up.

We see all through scripture Jesus healing people who ask him for help. Jesus even heals those who secretly reach out and touch his robe. This time though we see Christ offering to help a total stranger who hasn’t even asked for his help. Wow! Let’s be like Jesus and not only help those who come to us with a need, but let’s be aware of those who don’t even ask.

Read today passage on Biblegateway Luke 7:11-17

Family of Nations - Genesis 10

Have you met a stranger and felt a connection to them? I listened to a stranger as he told me about his 78 year old wife, who had terminal cancer. Tears came to his eyes as he acknowledged he was going to lose her soon. He knew she would be in a better place, without pain or tears. His burden was heavy and he felt the need to reach out and connect with someone. I felt as if I were a part of his family as we shared time together.

God knows the worst humans are capable of doing. The slate, wiped clean by the flood, gave humans a new beginning. God believes people can be better and wants to continue a relationship with them.

Today’s reading in Genesis is an account of how Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth populated the earth and spread around the world after the flood. Think about it, our current world is populated with the descendants of Noah. We are all related!

People are very different around the world, but we're all connected. In a perfect world, we would relate as brothers and sisters. However, our world isn't perfect because it's filled with imperfect people.

Sometimes we are blessed through a national or international catastrophe, or unique experience that draws us together. The world becomes small enough to feel the connection with the hearts of strangers and, together, we unite with Our Father. We need to be open and looking for circumstances to make the connection.

We like to hear from you, click on Comments below.

If you prefer sending your comments directly to us by email, click here.

Read today's text on Biblegateway, Genesis 10

Pray for Strangers -- Colossians 1:1-14

“Please pray for my friend, Betty, who is struggling with cancer,” said Ann. “She is a Christian and she is in so much pain.” I never met Betty, but I knew that I could pray for her. It does not matter if I have never come face to face with Betty; there is power in intercessory prayer. Christians are encouraged to pray for one another, even when they’ve never met.

To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—(Colossians 1:2-4 NIV)

Paul didn’t know the Christians of the Colossian churches, but he prayed for them regularly. It has been said that once we pray with or for someone we are no longer strangers. Max Lucado wrote in his book God Came Near “It is man who creates the distance. It is Jesus who builds the bridge.” Prayer is that bridge.

Who could you pray for that you have never met: a government official, a hungry child in another county, the family member of a close friend? You never know, someone may be praying for you whom you have never met. Prayer is powerful

Read the entire scripture for today at Biblegateway in Colossians 1:1-14

We encourage your comments.