Pray Specifically by Name

Just reading Colossians 1.9-12 in accordance with Charles Stanley's devotional for the day. How often do you read scripture, praying through it, with a specific person's name in it? I remember working in the restaurant business and learning how to say "Please", "Thank You", "Hello" and "Good night" in about a dozen different languages. A total of 48 phrases, if you do the math, made a world of difference to the people who were native speakers of those languages. Now, while God knows every word on our heart and is not moved by flattery, don't you think it honors Him when we speak His language?

Try praying through His word and see what power meaningful specifics have in prayer over the blandness of wandering generalities.

9. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11. being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
12. giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

He is faithful.