Word of a new believer in Christ is a joyful moment, particularly if you’ve been praying for their salvation for a long time. It is also a time to shift the focus of your prayer to their maturing faith. Paul gave us a good guide for such a prayer in Collosians 1:3-12 after he heard about the new believers in Colossae.
He too was thankful for their “faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints (Verse 4, NASB).” Paul is grateful that the gospel is bearing fruit in all the world “and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth (6).” But he also recognized it was not a time to pull back on fervent prayer for them.
In verses 9-12 he wrote to these new believers “we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be:
- filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding
- walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects
- bearing fruit in every good work
- increasing in the knowledge of God
- strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience
- joyously giving thanks to the Father”
1 Peter 5:8 reminds us, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” As believers in Jesus Christ, we are targets of attack by the devil. Paul’s prayer is a good guide for praying for new believers who may be vulnerable to attack as well as those who have followed Jesus for years.
© 2021, CGThelen
140 Character Christian 
Meaningful reminder! As an acquaintance comes to Jesus, we must continue to pray for God’s hand in sustaining this newfound faith.
What a helpful insight! Thank you.
Praying you will be strengthened by God’s word. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.