The Power of Prayer
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
Colossians 1:1-14, Ephesians 6:18
1 From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is also a follower. 2 To God's people who live in Colossae and are faithful followers of Christ. I pray that God our Father will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! 3 Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We have heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all God's people, 5 because what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You first heard about this hope when you believed the true message, which is the good news. 6 The good news is spreading all over the world with great success. It has spread in this same way among you, ever since the first day you learned the truth about God's wonderful kindness 7 from our good friend Epaphras. He works together with us for Christ and is a faithful worker for you. 8 He is also the one who told us about the love that God's Spirit has given you. 9 We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding his Spirit gives. 10 Then you will live a life that honors the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better. 11 His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy. 12 I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. 13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who forgives our sins and sets us free.
Colossians 1:1-14
18 Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people.
Ephesians 6:18
Memory Verse
James 5:16
16 If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed. The prayer of an innocent person is powerful, and it can help a lot.
When kids pray, it makes a difference! Sometimes we might think that God only hears grown-up prayers, but God also wants kids to care about and pray for our families and friends. Kids and families can also pray big prayers for our neighborhoods, communities, and the world. James 5:16 says that when someone who loves God prays, their prayers are powerful and can help a lot.
It is easy to think, “There is nothing I can do!” but God tells us to pray. He promises to fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit. And when we pray, we have no idea how incredibly God will move!
Praying connects us to God and to the people around us. We cry when we hear about wars, forest fires, sick friends, and families who are hurting. Let's pray and help them in this powerful way.
In Colossians 1, we hear what Paul and Timothy prayed for the church there. They prayed that God would show that church everything he wanted them to do and that they would have all the wisdom and understanding his Spirit gives. They thanked God for his rescue plan for sending Jesus to save his people from sin.
Do you know anyone who needs prayer? Maybe they're in the hospital or caring for a sick family member. Maybe there's a friend who's seeking answers to big questions and needs God's wisdom. Our world, church, and friends need us to pray these prayers. God moves when we pray. There is nothing our God cannot do!
Prayer
God, you are big and mighty! There is nothing that you cannot do! Please grow our hearts to care about what you care about for our world, family, and friends. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Please move in your power to help those who are hurting, sick, and hopeless. Shine the light of Jesus in our world as you hold it in your hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.Related Resources
Holly Sperling
Holly Sperling teaches grade 2 at Edmonton Christian School in Edmonton, Alberta. She loves journeying with children and their families to discover God’s redemptive love and role in His story. Holly and her husband, Burke have a blended family of five, enjoying being grandparents and are attempting to train their very active Pyrenees Poodle.