09/06/2026
CONSIDER THIS..."Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, 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—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak" Colossians 4:2-4
The apostle Paul urged his friends in Colossae to intercede...not that he would be released from prison, and not for comfort or provision...but that the opportunity for gospel proclamation would be greater. Pray for me to speak clearly concerning Jesus, he asked.. Three facets of Christian intercession in one sentence:
"continue steadfastly" = be strong, committed to prayer, a priority
"being watchful" = in Greek, to guard, protect, watch over
"with thanksgiving" = prayer saturated with gratitude
One of nine spiritual disciplines Christ-followers practice as a way of life is intercession. It is literally how we roll. Time spent in His Presence, exchanging heart concerns — we say what's on our heart,
what is uppermost to lay before our King. And we listen to His heart, responding with prayers.
Oswald Chambers in his classic My Utmost for His Highest wrote, "You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption. True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by his attitude toward that person or circumstance. Intercession means to 'fill up...[with] what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ' (Colossians 1:24), and this is precisely why there are so few intercessors. People describe
intercession by saying, "It is putting yourself in someone else's place." That is not true! Intercession is putting yourself in God's place; it is having His mind and His perspective."
Corrie ten Boom wrote, "We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.”
And Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner.”
Four strengths were listed by Luke in the first church in Jerusalem: "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" Acts 2:42. I contend that intercessory prayer, guarding with gratitude what God has provided, seeking open doors for the gospel of the kingdom, is
part and parcel of all genuine New Testament congregations. We pray, alone, as couples and families, and in groups committed to the work of intercession. This must not be ignored or left to those "gifted" in intercession.
It is my responsibility and privilege; it is yours if you follow Jesus Christ. Join a prayer group—or start one. God responds to the heartfelt prayers of his people, so let us be about it.
Stopping to pray, Pastor Perry Floyd
