The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:9–11, 28B–29; 4:2–4; Ephesians 4:11–16; James 1:2–4(day five)

When you pray, what do you pray for? When you pray, whom do you pray for? Our Re:Verse passages this week give us really good guidance. As we think about “Deepening Disciples” (theme for this study), we must remember that it is in and through relationships that discipleship often happens. Reading the prayers of Paul this week, I was reminded and challenged to be invested and connected to others in a way that would prompt me not only to pray for their needs and circumstances, but also their spiritual growth and maturity. When people ask me how they can pray for me, I am quick to mention temporal, physical, and spiritual needs and concerns. But Paul shows us another facet of praying for one another: Praying also for spiritual growth and maturity, including patterns, habits, and fruit that will enhance and evidence a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. When these kinds of prayers are a part of our regular petitions for ourselves and for others, there will be deepening relationships, as well as deepening discipleship.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:9–11, 28B–29; 4:2–4; Ephesians 4:11–16; James 1:2–4 (day four)

When we first become a Christian, we realize that there are certain “basics” to living the Christian life. Praying, reading our Bible, being kind to others. It’s easy to think that Christian maturity means we eventually move beyond these “basics,” and on to heavy-hitters like doctrine, theology, and apologetics, like a mathematician moves on from addition and subtraction to algebra and calculus.

But that’s not the picture that Scripture paints. These things aren’t “basics,” they’re pillars of living the Jesus way. We don’t grow beyond them, we deepen our roots in these very things. Christian maturity means deepening our prayer life – confessing sins more readily and praying for others more fervently. It means reading Scripture with more attention to what the Spirit is saying. It means interacting with others in such a way that the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is more obvious to them.

Christian maturity doesn’t mean graduating to high mindedness, it means growing deeper roots.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:9–11, 28B–29; 4:2–4; Ephesians 4:11–16; James 1:2–4 (day three)

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:4)

When you read these verses together, you can pick up on how discipleship is constant or steadfast “work.” Look at it this way:

• We have not ceased to pray… (Col. 1:9)
• {We have not ceased to} ask... (Col. 1:9)
• For this purpose also I labor… (Col. 1:29)
• Devote yourselves to pray, keeping alert in it… (Col 4:2)
• We are to grow up into all aspects of Him… (Eph. 4:15)

Growing in Christ and discipling others to grow in Christ is a continual, never-ending work. Paul encourages us to take this seriously. Following Jesus should permeate every aspect of our lives. If you took an honest look at your efforts to follow the Lord (and to lead all others to a joyful life with Him), would you say that you could describe it the way Paul describes his own efforts in following the Lord? I know I struggle with it at times.

There is a cost to following the Lord. It is not easy. But we can rest assured that it is worth it. James reminds us of this in his letter. The trials we go through, the work we put in, the difficulties we face, the time spent in prayer and petition, and anything else we do for the Lord is all worth it and is used to grow us more into being “little Christs,” perfect and complete. May you be steadfast this week as you grow in Jesus and disciple others. I will be praying for you!

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:9–11, 28B–29; 4:2–4; Ephesians 4:11–16; James 1:2–4 (day two)

 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you …9a

For the past several weeks we have had several small passages of scripture to help illustrate the topic of the week. May I encourage you to zoom out on these texts and put them in a broader context? Our first passage this week comes from Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse. He is giving a spiritual report card to the believers there and wants his check-up to be one of encouragement and renewal. He was aware of their faithfulness to the work of the gospel, and was affirming their commitment to it.

As we study discipleship this summer, we must remember that we are both discipling and being discipled. Regarding the former, take time to affirm new believers. Encourage their walk, find ways where God is truly using their new found faith, and give them that blessed “well done.” Can you imagine what a letter from Paul meant to these people and the church? Your words of encouragement could carry the same impact in the life of someone young in the faith.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18 (day seven)

like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 1 Peter 2:2

It is 9:30pm on Saturday night. I just paused the show that I was watching with my wife to write this blog because she was called to the other room to nurse our three month old son. This is our norm. Albeit true that my son needs the milk for survival and that his cry signifies that he believes this is a dire situation, it has only been a few hours since his last feeding. This particular feeding is not for survival but for satisfying a longing deep inside him that grows more and more desperate with each cry.

That is exactly the type of longing that we should have for the Word of God. Our soul is crying out desperately to meet a longing deep inside of us. If only we would hit pause more often on the world around us so we could take the time needed to meet that need. Imagine the growth we could see if this became our norm!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18 (day six)

And so, dear friends…2 Peter 3:14

One of God’s greatest gifts is the friend who refuses to let us forget. Peter writes his final letter not simply as an apostle but as a friend, someone who knows these believers, loves them, and takes the initiative to remind them of what matters most. Good friends do that. They remind us of who Jesus is, what God is doing, and where history is headed.

Peter’s vision reaches beyond “going to heaven someday.” He points us toward God’s promise of a new heaven and earth where righteousness dwells. That future reshapes the present. We are not waiting to escape the world; we are learning to live as citizens of God’s coming Kingdom today.

Who in your life reminds you to keep your eyes on Jesus? And to whom are you that kind of friend? Good friends help one another live today in light of God’s tomorrow.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18 (day five)

“because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;”

As we think about “growing” in our faith this week, Paul gives a specific indicator of spiritual growth and maturity. It is a litmus test for the progress and authenticity of discipleship. Here’s how Websters defines litmus test: “a decisive indicator that evaluates the true nature, quality, or authenticity of someone or something based on a single factor.”
Not only Paul, but John also echos that love for other believers is a clear sign of the presence and activity of God in the life of believers. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14).  This is not only a New Testament concept. David also writes in Psalms, “As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.” 16:3
Our actions and attitudes toward other believers indicate and testify to spiritual growth as well as the presence of Christ in our lives and hearts. Is it clearly evident (to ourselves and others) that we love other believers?  And is it clearly evident that our love for one another is dynamic in that it is growing (deepening)?  Do we “pass this litmus test”?

Delighting in Christ’s people is normal, healthy Christianity.”- Donald Whitney

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18 (day four)

Take a moment to think back on your walk with Christ so far. What has caused the most growth in your spiritual life? Was there a particularly moving sermon? A helpful Bible study? A retreat?

All of those things can be helpful in my spiritual growth. But I have found that the conversations and prayers I have shared with my brothers and sisters in Christ have propelled some of the most profound growth in my life. Second only to daily time in prayer and Scripture reading, relationships with other believers is essential to becoming more like Christ. When we are willing to be vulnerable and move beyond Sunday morning pleasantries and invite others into our questions, hopes, and fears, we will find that Christ meets us there. When we open ourselves to the encouragement, exhortation, and correction of other believers, we will be challenged to grow in ways we never would on our own.

Who in your life encourages and challenges you? How might you take a step to deepen your relationship with someone so that they can encourage and challenge you? Who has allowed you into their life to do the same? Spiritual growth requires deep relationships. Deep relationships require vulnerability. Vulnerability requires trust. Fortunately, when Christ is at the center of a relationship, we can move in confident trust that he will use that relationship to form us into his likeness.