“Praying You Grow”

Church family, can I ask you a question that might sound simple but runs deep? We’ve all heard it—and most of us have probably said it:

“How can I pray for you?”

It’s a good question. A loving one. But if we’re honest, most of us aren’t quite sure how to answer it.

Sometimes we give safe answers—pray for our health, our families, our work. Sometimes we default to generalities—“just pray for wisdom,” or “pray things get better.” And there’s nothing wrong with those. But think about this: the way we pray for each other often reveals what we value most for each other.

And I wonder—do we ever stop to think about what God wants us to pray for one another?

What if prayer isn’t just about getting help for our problems—but about asking God to form us into people who reflect Christ?

What if prayer is one of the most powerful ways we help one another grow?

In Colossians 1, we get a glimpse into the heart of the apostle Paul—a man who had never even met the Colossians, but who carried them on his heart in prayer. And notice—Paul could have prayed for their health, their safety, or their success, but he doesn’t. He prays for something far deeper: he prays they would grow.

Church family, I believe that’s what God wants for us too.

We’re beginning this new season together—not just with a new series, and not just with a new pastor—but with a fresh opportunity to grow in Christ. And one of the greatest gifts we can give each other is prayer. Not just casual prayer—but intentional, gospel-shaped, Christ-exalting prayer that says: “I’m praying you grow.”

So here’s the question I want to place before us this morning:

What does it look like to pray for someone to become more like Jesus?

This is an important question for us to focus our time on this morning because without this type of focus, we settle for less. I mean, we live in a world that is obsessed with growth—but often in all the wrong ways.

We track steps, grow businesses, and push our kids to succeed. And none of those things are wrong—but they can easily become the only kind of growth we value.

Even in the church, it’s easy to drift into that mindset.

We talk about growing attendance, growing programs, growing reach—and yes, those things matter. But what if all of it happens… and we still don’t grow in Christ?

What if we gain momentum, energy, and excitement—but lose the kind of growth that actually reflects the heart of Jesus?

Because here’s the reality: Busy in church—but stagnant in Christ. Knowing Scripture—but missing transformation. Serving much—but maturing little.

And if that’s true—then we’ve got to ask: What kind of growth does God really care about?

Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1 helps us answer that question. He doesn’t pray for a bigger church, a bolder reputation, or a stronger brand. He prays that the believers in Colossae would grow in spiritual wisdom… in understanding… in pleasing God… in bearing fruit… in endurance… and in joy.

In other words, Paul is praying they grow into Christlikeness.

And here’s where the tension lands for you and for me:

Are we praying that kind of growth for one another? Are we pursuing it for ourselves?

Because if we’re not careful, we’ll settle for surface-level spirituality—where we look good, serve well, and stay the same.

But God wants more for us than activity. He wants maturity. He wants transformation.

He wants us to grow in the soil of the gospel until our lives begin to look more and more like Jesus.

We see this first in

Colossians 1:9 ESV

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Gospel Growth Starts with Knowing God’s Will

Paul begins his prayer not by asking for physical protection or circumstantial ease, but for spiritual depth. “We have not ceased to pray for you,” he writes, “asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

That word “filled” means to be completely influenced by—like a sponge soaking up water or a sail being filled with wind. Paul wants the Colossians to be filled with the kind of knowledge that transforms how they live—wisdom and understanding that comes from God, not just from books or religious habits.

This is a crucial reminder for us. Because if we’re not intentional, our spiritual growth can drift into one of two ditches. On one side, we treat the Christian life like a list of rules to follow—rigid, mechanical, guilt-driven. On the other side, we chase emotional experiences or shallow slogans with no root. Paul is praying for something deeper than both: for wisdom that shapes how we see the world, how we make decisions, and how we respond to challenges.

Let me give you an illustration.

Learning to drive starts with rules. Ten and two on the wheel. Check your mirrors. Obey the signs. Watch the lights. But with time and experience, your understanding deepens. You start anticipating other drivers. You get a sense for when something’s off.

Now—Jennifer Daehling taught me this: in Midland, green doesn’t mean go. It means pause, look both ways—twice—watch one car run the red, then maybe go.

You laugh because it’s true. But here’s the point: eventually, good drivers stop just reacting to signs and start seeing the road with wisdom. They develop instincts—not because they’ve memorized the manual, but because they’ve learned from experience and alertness. And if that’s true on the road, how much more is it true in life? Knowing the rules is good, but wisdom is what keeps you from the wrecks.

That’s what Paul is praying for here. Not just that the Colossians would know the spiritual “rules,” but that they would grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding—the kind that comes from walking closely with Jesus, filled by the Spirit, alert to what pleases God, and discerning in a world that doesn’t always follow the signs.

This means the more we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, the more we understand what he desires. The more we walk in step with the Spirit, the more discerning we become. The more we grow in grace, the more clearly we recognize the will of God—not just in moments of crisis, but in everyday decisions and attitudes. And the clearer we see Jesus, the clearer we see what pleases him. Because God’s will isn’t an abstract plan — it’s a Person. To know Jesus is to know what God wants. The more you see him, the more you’ll see life the way he does. And when you see life through his eyes, you’ll start to walk in his ways.

Church family, when Paul says he hasn’t stopped praying this for the Colossians, it’s not because they were failing—it’s because he knew how much more was available. And I want to echo that same heartbeat for us.

I don’t just want you to be informed—I want you to be transformed.

I’m not just praying you’ll know more doctrine—I’m praying you’ll be filled with the wisdom that flows from Jesus himself.

Because when we’re filled with that kind of knowledge—when our minds are soaked in Scripture and shaped by the Spirit—we won’t drift. We’ll grow.

So let me ask: Are you seeking to know God’s will—or just asking him to bless your own? Are you filling your heart with his truth—or just hoping things work out?

Because gospel growth always starts with this: a deep, Spirit-led desire to know what pleases God and live it out.

Let’s look now at

Colossians 1:10–12 ESV

so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father…

Pray for Spiritual Growth That Shows Up in Everyday Life

Let’s not forget where we left off—Paul is praying that these believers would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. But not so they can just sit on it. Not so they can just know the right answers. Not so they can feel spiritually superior. He prays for them to walk in a way that reflects the worth of the Lord. In other words, gospel growth should change how you live.

We’re talking about a life that bears fruit—not just a mind full of facts. A life that reflects Jesus in the everyday, not just on Sundays. Paul lays out what that looks like:

“Bearing fruit in every good work” – Your faith shows up in service, in how you treat people, in how you act when no one’s watching.

“Increasing in the knowledge of God” – You keep leaning in, growing in your relationship with him.

“Being strengthened with all power...for endurance and patience with joy” – That’s not just power to perform—it’s strength to persevere. The gospel doesn’t just give us energy; it gives us staying power.

“Giving thanks to the Father” – Gratitude becomes your posture, even when life is hard.

Now, let’s be honest. That’s a tall order. It’s one thing to know what a godly life looks like—it’s another to live it out here in West Texas, where your day might start before sunrise and run well into the night. Maybe you’re running a pump jack, teaching a classroom, fixing someone’s A/C, or wrangling toddlers. Paul isn’t talking about some kind of hyper-spiritual, monastery-style life. He’s talking about ordinary people living in an extraordinary way—right where they are.

Here’s an illustration that might help:

Think of a healthy fruit tree.

A healthy orange tree doesn’t strain, grunt, or clench its branches trying to produce oranges. It doesn’t look over at the tree next to it and say, “I better keep up!” It bears fruit because it’s rooted well, watered well, and given sunlight and time. Fruit is the natural result of healthy roots. Nobody has to tape oranges onto the branches of a tree. Fruit is simply what happens when the roots are healthy. And church family, nobody has to fake Christlikeness when the roots of your life are deep in him—it just grows.

In the same way, spiritual fruit is the natural outcome of being rooted in Christ and walking in him daily. When you’re rooted in grace, fruit begins to show—little by little. You start responding to stress with peace. You show up with compassion. You hold your tongue when it would be easier to lash out. You choose generosity over greed. You learn to say, “Thank you, Lord,” even when it’s hard.

Church family, this is how we grow. This is what we should be praying for in one another. Not just that life gets easier, but that faith gets deeper. That fruit grows. That gratitude rises. That endurance lasts.

Let me ask you something, and I want you to really consider it: If someone looked at your life this week—your words, your choices, your reactions—what kind of fruit would they see?

If your kids or coworkers were to describe the spiritual tone of your life, would it sound like Colossians 1:10–12? Or would it sound like you’re running on fumes?

This isn’t condemnation — it’s your Father’s invitation: deeper roots, better fruit. Not for show, not to earn anything, but because Jesus is worthy—and he is forming you to reflect him.

And that’s what Paul’s getting at here. He’s praying for visible, sustainable, rooted-in-Christ, overflowing-with-thanksgiving kind of growth. Not just in their quiet time—but in their whole lives.

And here’s the beautiful truth: this kind of life doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from being filled with God’s power and walking in his strength. That’s what makes it possible. That’s what makes it lasting.

So, how do you begin to live that kind of life? You don’t start by fixing everything on the outside—you start by grounding yourself in what God has already done on the inside. You start by remembering that Jesus Christ has already done the work—his life, death, and resurrection have made your growth possible.

We grow by looking to him. And we can keep living this way—enduring, bearing fruit, giving thanks—only if we know deep down: we already belong. And that’s exactly where Paul goes next—reminding us that before you ever grow, God has already given you security in Christ.

Colossians 1:12–14 ESV

…who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Pray from a Place of Gospel Assurance

After listing all the ways Paul prays for their growth, he shifts gears—not toward what they will become, but what God has already done. And this, church family, is where your prayers gain power.

Notice the verbs here: Qualified. Delivered. Transferred. Redeemed. Forgiven.

All of those are past tense. Finished. Secured. Every one of those verbs is stamped with the cross and sealed with the empty tomb.

Paul doesn’t tell the Colossians to work toward being qualified—he reminds them they already are.

This is what makes Christian prayer different from wishful thinking or anxious begging. We don’t pray to earn something from God—we pray because we already have everything we need in Christ, and that assurance fuels us to grow. We pray as adopted children—loved, accepted, secure.

Imagine a child who’s been adopted into a family. She doesn’t wake up each day worrying if she still belongs. She doesn’t try to impress her parents just to keep her spot in the house. She knows she’s loved. And church family—that’s the soil where real growth happens: not fear, but security.

In the same way, Paul reminds us: you’ve already been rescued. You’ve already been relocated. You’ve already been redeemed. You’re not praying for a position—you’re praying from one.

Let’s look more closely at what Paul says here.

You’ve been qualified for the inheritance. That’s kingdom language. God has declared you fit to receive the full blessings of belonging to him. And you didn’t qualify yourself—God did it. Through Jesus.

You’ve been delivered from darkness. You’re no longer a slave to sin, fear, or spiritual blindness. Whatever held you before—Christ has broken it.

You’ve been transferred into the kingdom of the Son. Think of that: a complete relocation of your spiritual identity. You used to belong to one realm—now you belong to another. New King. New rules. New future.

And in this kingdom, you have redemption—which means you’ve been bought back from slavery—and forgiveness, which means your debt is erased. Not just someday. Right now.

Church family, when you pray, do you pray like someone who's been transferred into the kingdom of the beloved Son? Or do you pray like someone still unsure if they belong?

There’s a kind of praying that’s timid, hesitant, uncertain. And there’s a kind of praying that flows from gospel confidence. That’s what Paul is modeling for us. He’s saying: because you’ve been qualified, because you’ve been delivered, because you’re already redeemed—pray like it!

Don’t pray like a spiritual orphan. Pray like a son. Like a daughter.

Pray for fruit because God is already at work in you.

Pray for strength because God has already rescued you.

Pray for others because you know what it means to be forgiven.

This kind of gospel-assured praying is what sustains real spiritual growth—not guilt, not insecurity, not fear of failure. But the deep knowledge that you are secure in Christ.

So let’s bring this into focus:

Are your prayers shaped more by your fears—or by your assurance in the gospel?

Are you praying for others to grow from a place of hope—or a place of worry?

Are you praying like someone who still needs to earn God’s favor—or someone who already has it?

Paul wants the Colossians—and us—to know: your past has been redeemed, your present is secure, and your future is glorious. So pray with that kind of boldness.

And that brings us to the question that drives this whole message.

Now that we’ve seen how Paul prayed—for a life shaped by God's will, for visible spiritual fruit, and from a place of gospel assurance—let’s get practical.

Let me ask you:

Who are you praying for right now? And what are you praying for them?

For most of us, the honest answer is simple: we pray for people to be healthy, to be safe, to be comforted, to be successful. And there’s nothing wrong with that—God cares about those things, and we should too. But if that’s where our prayers end, we’re missing out on something far deeper and far richer. Because good prayers ask for help. But great prayers ask for holiness.

We’re missing the kind of praying that shapes people to become more like Jesus.

What if you prayed for your family, friends, and church like Paul prayed for the Colossians?

Not just “help my son have a good day,” but “grow him in wisdom.”

Not just “be with my friend,” but “bear fruit in her.”

Not just, “Bless our church,” but “Lord, fill us with the knowledge of your will, produce real fruit, and remind us we’re already yours.”

See the shift?

This is not just about praying for outcomes—it’s about praying for formation.

Not just for relief—but for refinement.

Not just for comfort—but for Christlikeness.

That’s the bottom line of this message:

Don’t just pray for comfort—pray for Christlikeness.

Comfort fades. Christlikeness lasts.

Because in the end, that’s what God is after in every one of us. Not simply that we’d be safe, or successful, or admired—but that we would become more like Jesus.

And what if our prayers were aligned with that?

What if we didn’t settle for shallow prayers, but started praying Colossians 1 prayers—for our families, our church, our city?

What if our homes were marked by prayer that sought God’s will, bore fruit, and rested in gospel confidence?

What if our church became known—not just as a church that prays—but as a church that prays big, bold, Christ-shaped prayers?

Fannin Terrace, this is part of what it means to be a church helping people become more like Christ. We’re not just cheering each other on—we’re down on our knees interceding for one another. We’re lifting each other up with gospel hope. We’re going before the throne of God with boldness, not because we’re impressive, but because Jesus is.

So today, who’s that one person you’ll start praying for like this?

And what’s keeping you from praying bigger?

You might hear all this and think, “That sounds good, but does it really matter? Can my prayers actually make a difference in someone else's spiritual life?”

Let me remind you of something beautiful in this passage: Paul had never met the Colossians. He didn’t plant their church. He wasn’t their pastor. He wasn’t even writing from a comfortable place—he was in prison. And yet, through his faithful, gospel-shaped prayers, fruit was growing in a place he’d never been among people he’d never seen. If Paul’s prison prayers shook the world, don’t you think your living-room prayers can change a life?

Why?

Because prayer isn’t limited by geography.

It isn’t hindered by personality.

It doesn’t depend on our eloquence or strength.

It’s fueled by the Spirit of God and the finished work of Christ.

This is the kind of prayer God uses to change lives. Not just “bless them” prayers, but deep, interceding, soul-shaping prayers. Prayers that align with his will. Prayers that ask for real growth. Prayers that echo the gospel.

And if God used Paul’s prison prayers to shape a church in Colossae…

If he used Epaphras to carry the gospel and celebrate its fruit…

If he used the prayers of an outsider to encourage the hearts of believers...

Then he can use your prayers too.

You don’t have to be a spiritual giant. You don’t have to have perfect words. You don’t have to know everything about the person you’re praying for. But you do have to believe that Jesus is enough—and that his Spirit is still at work today, growing his people, one prayer at a time.

Church family, never underestimate what God can do through a prayer prayed in faith and rooted in grace. Because when we pray like Paul, we’re doing more than asking God for good things—we’re joining him in the greater work of making people more like Christ.

So what do we do with this?

We pray.

We don’t just nod our heads at Paul’s words. We don’t just admire the depth of his prayers. We take them—and we use them. We open Colossians 1:9–14, and we let it shape how we pray for the people we love.

Don’t wait until tomorrow—because someone in your life needs your prayers today. Start now. Right now, put a name in your mind. Maybe it’s your spouse. Your child. A close friend. A coworker. Maybe it’s someone in your Sunday school—or someone in this church you’ve just begun to know. Write their name down. Open this passage. And then pray it over them—line by line, word for word, with boldness and hope.

And then tell them.

Say: “Hey, I’m praying this for you.”

Let them know you’re asking God to grow them in wisdom, to strengthen them in faith, to root them deeper in grace. You may be surprised by how much that simple act of intercession encourages them—and challenges you to keep praying.

Loved ones, we don’t want to be a church that only prays for comfort. We want to be a people who pray for Christlikeness.

Don’t just pray for comfort—pray for Christlikeness.

Because when we do, we’re not just making requests.

We’re partnering with God’s purpose.

We’re watering the seeds of gospel growth.

We’re joining the Spirit’s work of shaping lives to look more like Jesus.

He lived the life you couldn’t live, died the death you deserved, rose with victory you could never win—and now reigns as King and intercedes for you. And that King is for you — right now, in this moment — interceding for you by name—and he will finish the work he’s begun in you. So church family—let’s pray big, let’s pray bold, and let’s pray until Christ is formed in us.

So let’s begin today. Let’s commit together. Because our mission isn’t survival—it’s transformation. It’s becoming more like Christ, together. And it starts right here… on our knees.

Closing Prayer

Father in heaven,

We thank you for your Word—living and active, sharp and sure.

Thank you for this glimpse into the heart of the apostle Paul, who prayed not just for comfort, but for Christlikeness in your people.

Lord, make us a praying people. Not just for comfort, but for Christlikeness. Not just for ease, but for endurance. Not just for blessings, but for lives that look like Jesus.

Thank you that we don’t pray as strangers, but as children—qualified, rescued, redeemed, and forgiven. Let that assurance stir our confidence and deepen our love.

And Father, would you make Fannin Terrace a church where gospel growth is normal, where Christlikeness is our aim, and where every member lifts up others in prayer with purpose and passion?

Use our prayers to bear fruit.

Use our words to build faith.

Use our church to make much of Jesus.

Because Jesus is enough.

Jesus is Lord.

And Jesus is above all.

We pray this in his name—Jesus Christ our Savior,

Amen.