Prayer is one of those things that I struggle with. I am not good at concentrating on the words of others. And I spend a fair amount of time dealing with the fruits of the old me: anger, desire, covetouness, and my tendancy to look at the issues and not at the people.
But there are people who need prayer, and they include us.
9For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
We are told to pray for each other, for those in authority, particularly when they are standing for things that are correct. and for ourselves. We should be praying for those who we know are in pain, and for the troubles of this world.
This can be overwhelming. But prayer… is needed. It is better to pray badly than not at all. So may we all grow in wisdom and know the plan of God for ourselves, so that we may become mature in Christ.