Harold was a member of our small group who loved God and was passionate about serving. He was an older man with godly wisdom and was much respected and appreciated by our group.

When we prayed together and for each other I noticed a difference between Harold’s prayers and my own. My prayers often sounded like a shopping list of requests. Harold’s prayers were more like the prayers of Paul and others who are found in the Bible. Paul and Harold prayed for spiritual blessings for others. 

They prayed for things that really got to the core of people’s needs, so that those prayed for would grow and develop characters that would be more Christ-like.

I now use the Bible more when I pray for others and myself. The prayers in scripture are very beautiful and encouraging, like the one in the first chapter of Colossians. My prayer life has been deepened as I have used the Bible to shape my prayers. I often find that God directs me to the right verse to pray to meet a specific need.

I will be forever grateful to Harold for teaching me this powerful way to add strength and purpose to my prayers.

Prayer: Thank you, dear Father, for the power of your word. Continue to show us how to use it as we pray. Amen