Thursday, 3 October 2024
PRAYING FOR NEW CONVERTS
Wherefore also we pray always for you... That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).
It’s important for us to always intercede for those who may still be ignorant or yet to come to maturity in the things of the Spirit. It brings to mind the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” He constantly prayed for them to become rooted and grounded in Christ. This is the will of the Father.
In his letter to the Christians in Colossae, he prayed a beautiful prayer of the Spirit, saying, "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" (Colossians 1:9). When you intercede for fellow Christians like this, you’re actually praying the will of God.
However, there may be things in those people's lives that may prevent God's actions from taking place or even His will from being manifested. It could be their ignorance, as Hosea 4:6 states, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...,” or even their wilful disobedience. For many new converts or those still growing in the Faith, spiritual priorities may not yet be clear. They may not fully appreciate the importance of attending church services or studying the Bible regularly.
In such cases, our intercession plays a pivotal role. By praying for them, we create the avenue for God to intervene in their lives, to open their hearts and minds to His truth and wisdom. When you pray this way, Christ takes root in their hearts, and they become synchronized with the perfect will of God. As an intercessor, you’re persistent; you keep praying that they walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in their knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).
Even now, spend some time to pray for new converts in your local church and around the world, that they be established in the Faith, doing the will of the Father, active in the work of the ministry, and bringing glory to God. Pray that they grow in the Word, firmly rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, and that the Lord perfects His work in their lives for His glory. Amen.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I pray for those who are new in the Faith or struggling in ignorance, that they’ll be filled with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. I pray that Christ dwells richly in their hearts by faith, and that they walk worthy of you, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in their knowledge of you day by day, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:15-18
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 2:1-18 & Isaiah 35-37
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Titus 3:1-15 & Jeremiah 51