How to Pray

Do you ever find yourself not really knowing how to pray for someone? I have this problem a lot and I feel like I just start repeating the same thing over and over. A few weeks ago, I was reading the commentary section in my Life Application Study Bible and found a great prayer tool from the verses in Colossians 1:9-12. Below I've listed the verses and the seven ways the commentary suggested to pray for someone. I've found this very helpful and hope you do, too! 

Colossians 1:9-12, NIV:  

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

1.  Pray that your friend would be filled with the knowledge of God's will (verse 9)

2.  Pray that your friend would gain spiritual wisdom (verse 9)

3.  Pray that your friend would please and honor God (verse 10)

4.  Pray that your friend would bear good fruit (verse 10)

5.  Pray that your friend would grow in the knowedge of God (verse 10)

6.  Pray that your friend would be filled with God's strength (verse 11)

7.  Pray that your friend would have great endurance and patience (verse 11)