And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:9-10)

Paul didn’t just thank God for the Colossian believers—he prayed for their growth. After hearing from Epaphras about their love in the Spirit, Paul’s response wasn’t to simply celebrate what was already there. He prayed that they would grow even deeper—into spiritual wisdom, understanding, and a life that fully pleased the Lord.

Do you pray like that for other Christians?

If we’re honest, it’s often easier to critique or complain about fellow believers than to intercede for their maturity. But what does complaining profit anyone? Nothing. James 5:16 reminds us that the fervent prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Imagine how the Church would flourish if our first instinct wasn’t criticism but was instead prayer—asking God to mature each other in wisdom, fruitfulness, and knowledge of Him.

If that kind of prayer doesn’t stir us, maybe it’s time for a heart check. Pride and self-focus can dull our love for others. But when we genuinely want others to grow in Christ, we reflect the very heart of Jesus—who never stops interceding for us.

So today, who can you pray for? Ask God to deepen their walk. And as you do, you might just find your own heart growing, too.

Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:5b-6)

The gospel came to me—but it didn’t stop there. I heard it. I understood the grace of God in truth. But again—it didn’t stop there. Paul writes that the gospel is bearing fruit and growing, not just in the world, but also in us. That’s personal. That’s ongoing.

If we stop growing in the gospel, how can we bear fruit? James reminds us that faith without works is dead. So if our life is void of fruit, we have to ask ourselves: Did I really hear and understand the gospel in truth? Or did I only grasp it in theory, through a lens of pretense or partial understanding?

The way we hear and understand the gospel matters. It’s the foundation we build everything on. And sadly, it’s possible for someone to call themselves a Christian for years and yet still have misunderstood the grace of God—mistaking culture for truth or emotion for faith. But the beauty of grace is this: correction is possible. Transformation is still possible.

If we seek truth—if we truly seek Him—we will find Him. God promises that (Jeremiah 29:13).

So pause and ask: Have I heard and understood the gospel in truth? Is it growing in me? Am I bearing fruit? And then, in grace and humility, press in deeper. Because real truth produces real growth.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints (Colossians 1:3-4)

Two small words—always and when—carry a powerful message in these verses. Paul writes that he always thanks God when he prays for the saints. His prayers weren’t limited to requests; they were filled with thanksgiving. He lived what he preached—just as he encouraged the Philippians to pray about everything with thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6), he practiced it faithfully. Gratitude was a regular rhythm of his prayer life.

The word “when” points to a habit of prayer, not a random act. Paul was a man of prayer—and not just for his own needs, but for others. That kind of consistent intercession flows from a heart focused on Jesus. When we’re aligned with Him, people naturally come to mind because they’re already on His heart.

Jesus Himself modeled this. In Luke 22:31-32, He prayed for Peter before Peter even failed. And now, as Hebrews 7:25 reminds us, Jesus continually lives to intercede for us. If Jesus does that for us, how much more should we do it for one another?

So when you pray for others, don’t just ask God to move—thank Him for how He already has. Thank Him always, when you remember them. Let your prayers be marked by intercession and overflowing with gratitude. It shapes your heart and honors the heart of God.