Day 3 of 10 Days of Prayer
Day 3 of 10 Days of Prayer, Exchanging Wishes with God
By: Zach Sloane
COLOSSIANS 4:2-6
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
The apostle Paul urges us to continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. When your prayers are rooted and shaped by in the finished work of the cross it is much easier to pray with thankfulness. We are praying from victory, declaring a victory already won.
Paul uses the word proseuché for prayer. The notion of an exchange of wishes is embedded in Paul’s choice of word. Now, this not to imply that prayer is something like a wishing well, where we hope God hears us, and maybe answers. It speaks of those things that we really want to see happen, but for all intents and purposes requires a miracle to happen.
Prayer is a dynamic event in which He pours His interests and wishes into our hearts, we pour out ours to Him. In this exchange we speak back to Him His intention to answer our prayers and our confidence in Him to do so, and we speak out the things that He wants to do in the Earth.
He has given us an opportunity through partnership with Him in prayer to feel His desires, in prayer to take on His own wishes and desires, and give voice to them, to express them though our faith in His finished work. And because we are His body in the Earth, its through our prayers and proclamations that His authority is expressed.
What an amazing opportunity to shape our world and partner with God.
Colossians 4:2-6 also tells us what some of His wishes are. Paul had engaged in this exchange of wishes to the point where all he wanted was for open doors and opportunities to make Jesus known. And not just in any old way, but “as He ought to,” as and how Jesus should be preached, with power and clarity and love.
When we engage with God in prayer for open doors for the message of Jesus, and when we enter into this dynamic prayer encounter with God where by His Spirit He makes us to know and pray His deepest desires, something happens to us as well. We too start to want what God wants in a conscious way – we start to do things like make the most of every opportunity, looking for ways we too can share Jesus with people in our daily lives.
Prayer Points
Let’s join together with God, in this dynamic prayer event
Let’s be vigilant, let’s be watchful, keeping our eyes on Jesus as He shares His wishes with us, and let’s be bold to proclaim them, to pray them and speak them out.
Let’s pray for open doors, for opportunities to make Jesus known… as we ought, with all the power and love that He has made available.
Let’s be actively engaged and seeking ways to make the most of every opportunity that we have, in order to share Jesus with the people around us… This is God’s greatest wish… that we would all know Him and enjoy His love.
I am consumed with the desire to see London full of your glory … to see every person embrace your gift of forgiveness, freedom and healing … I command it to be so in Jesus Name!!! We speak healing over all in our fellowship who need to be made healthy and whole … Every person walking in line with your heart for them … Bless in Jesus Name!!!
May we all be fully engaged with speaking forth Your intentions and purposes. May we at all times pray and speak out of the faith of God – with unfailing certainty and complete confidence and in the knowledge that we are partnering with the Great Creator, the Prime Mover of the entire universe who is more than able to exceed our expectations. We decree health and supply to any and all that are in need. We proclaim our city as a refuge of God himself – where He dwells and where His name is made glorious!
Amen!
Yes … AMEN!!!
Sloane family praying!
Father, what a privilege it is to proclaim the name of Jesus over our city. Not only do we believe that Jesus is above every other name, but we confidently declare that salvation is found in no one else. We love you, Jesus, and we want the whole world to know you personally.
Amen and Amen!!!
Love the idea of exchanging wishes, when I consider God wishes that none would perish and that all would come to eternal life that is a wish I can agree with… Lord let your glory fill the earth, i wish that the kingdom of God would be in full expression in my life, in my community in my world
Yes and Amen!!!
Thank you Lord for sharing your heart with us, your passion and desire. Thank you for the ministry of reconciliation that you have entrusted each one of us with as your representatives. Thank you for opportunities to share You with others, and that the strong desire and wish that you have to be known by all, is fully backed up by your power and grace. We boldly proclaim your intention: a strong, vibrant, influential church, health, healing and all the benefits of the cross on full display in our lives and community, resurrection power manifesting brightly in each of our lives, and total transformation of our city, region, country.
It is so amazing to me that God wants all these things that we pray for even more than we want them. He can see us transformed!
“Prayer is a dynamic event in which He pours His interests and wishes into our hearts, we pour out ours to Him. In this exchange we speak back to Him His intention to answer our prayers and our confidence in Him to do so, and we speak out the things that He wants to do in the Earth.” just love this!! Been exchanging with Him all day!!