Wrestling in Prayer

“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God mature and fully assured.” Colossians 4:12 NIV

Jesse Ventura, The Von Erich brothers, Terry and Dory Funk, John Cena, The Rock, Randy Savage, and the list goes on. UGH why do these names come to memory when I read this verse. I wasn’t a fan of WWF when I was little girl and my brother tried wrestling moves on me, and I wasn’t a fan in the 90’s when my husband taught my son the wrestling techniques, but somehow those wrestling icons came unlocked in my memory reading through this verse.

But now I’m going to add another to the top of the list, Epaphras.  I never learned to imitate the wrestling moves of WWF, but I do want to imitate Epaphras. His was a different type of prayer for the church at Colossae. When Epaphras prayed it was with pain and toil. In English the word wrestling is translated “agony.” Paul must have witnessed Epaphras on his knees in prayer straining with every nerve, beating his chest, crying out to God, asking that the Christian Colossians would stand firm in the will of God and become mature.

That is what wrestling in prayer means. Epaphras would strive in his prayer time of intercession. He desperately wanted to see the Colossian church grow in Christ.

And with that word picture I pause to reflect my own prayer life. Do I wrestle in prayer? As I pray for Southeast Texas, am I on my knees straining, asking God to comfort those who have lost so much? As Hurricane Irma builds in strength to a catagory 5, I need to be crying out to God who calms the winds and rains. Then there is my own brokeness that pulls my heart into a thousand pieces, am I really wrestling in prayer?

This word and its meaning is gripping me today.

I think there should be no more writing about it. Instead, it is time to practice what I write. Will you join me?

 

Here is a fellow author of Hear My Heart Publishing, Kristin Bonin. She lives is Houston. These are her prayer requests.

Hello Hear My Heart family! I know many of you have been praying for us down in Houston and I just wanted to hop on and say THANK YOU. In fact, prayer IS the best thing anyone can do right now and we desperately need it.

Can I share a few prayer needs?
Thousands upon thousands of homes have been flooded and people have lost everything.
-families have been separated
-sports complexes, churches, random businesses have turned into make shift shelters and there really just isn’t enough room or places for people to go
-first responders are working around the clock and are seeing things they’ve never seen before and have no time to process
-there have been tragic deaths
-leaders need a very strong prayer covering right now to lead through things they’ve never lead through
-there are so many homes that need help tearing things out, demo, clean up and it can be a health issue once mold & mildew sets in (which is quick)

Could y’all please pray for us?

In the midst of such devastation, I’ve never seen such unity. It’s beautiful. The families we’ve been helping have lost everything and are just so grateful to have each other.

Perspective has been brought to us that stuff is stuff, but we’ve redefined what it means to have each other. It’s beautiful. New friendships are being established and the church is stronger than ever down here. You can feel the presence of God in and through this. It’s amazing!

Just wanted to give y’all a quick update and ask for more prayer. Thanks y’all!