Oxygen for prayer life

This morning I was arrested by these words:

"Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word . . ." (Colossians 4:3).

Quite remarkable, I thought. Here we are being urged to prevail hard upon God for something that, presumably, He already wants even more than we want. Yet, for reasons that maybe the angels know, we are urged to beseech God for this open door. What? Do we have to pry from God, as if opening his tightly clenched fist, an open door for missionary work?

And this is no symbolic or ritualistic gesture of prayer that Paul enjoins, as if merely ornamenting his letter; this is the heavy lifting of repeated petitioning, perhaps fasting if the answer is not quickly forthcoming.

I could see it if the thing being requested were a more personal or selfish favor. We know that some requests are closer to God's heart than others. The Lord could scarcely conceal his delight when King Solomon asked for wisdom for the sake of ruling God's people well, rather than asking for riches or the death of his enemies. God was prepared to grant Solomon the lesser things he might have asked for, but was very pleased that the king was on his wavelength at that time in his life.

If I were to ask for beautiful hair, or romance, I could see where I would have to bear down and pray on my knees. But if what I am consumed with is the same thing God is consumed with anyway, an "open door" for the gospel, why do I even have to ask? And why do I have to keep asking day after day, always watching and wondering if this situation is the door or if that situation is the door?

I tell you what; I am most grateful for this morning's verse in Colossians. There is a tendency in us, with respect to the doctrine of God's sovereignty, that is unfortunate. It is possible for a less than fully orbed doctrine to have the effect of putting a damper on our praying. If we are not corrected or fine-tuned by such verses as Colossians 4:3, we may end up sagging in our duty for the simple reason that we do not think it is so very necessary after all. God is advancing His kingdom, and it is an unstoppable juggernaut, we may say to ourselves (which is the true part). So I do not have to knock myself out much in prayer (that is the false part).

Someday we may understand more fully why the Lord seemed so urgent about our prayers, as if heaven and earth depended on them. Who knows? Maybe it is his way of making us feel fully engaged in the process, body and soul. In the meantime, this SOS from Paul to Colossae to form a prayer circle and not let up is much needed oxygen for my prayer life. If this is the way the Lord wants it, so be it. Let's do it His way.

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