As Paul wraps up his letter to the Colossians, he does so with an emphasis on prayer. He tells them to pray without ceasing – being steadfast in prayer. I don’t know about you but I’m not the greatest example of a steadfast prayer life. But a mentor of mine who was recently called to be with Jesus reminded me how important prayer was. He told me that prayer not only would shape my life but the lives of those around me. This is why I stopped telling people that I’d pray for them. Instead I just offer to pray with them.

But prayer isn’t just so God fixes things. That’s the easy time to pray. We pray when we need something. We pray when we’re stressed. We pray when we want God to do something. Occasionally we’ll pray a little thank you in there somewhere. But the prayers that Paul talks about here are prayers that start before our feet hit the floor in the morning and go until our heads hit the pillow at night. You see prayer isn’t just for God to do something or thank him for what he’s already accomplished.

Prayer fuels the proclamation of the gospel.

When we read the bible or share it with others. When we enter worship or leave to go home. When we start a conversation with a friend or start a new school year. When we leave our job for the last time or enter the doors of a job for the first time. In every situation God wants us to call on him. He wants us to ask him for power to be his witness right there, wherever we are. It’s that simple. Prayer is the fuel we need share our faith.