Every now and then, a person in the news will capture my attention. When this happens, I try to pray for them. People pay attention to celebrities; they have a lot of power to influence others -- for good or for evil. I pray that those famous people will come to know the Lord and respect His ways, so they themselves can receive God's blessing, and because of their influence, share it with others.

Please the Lord

I sometimes think about what it would be like to be a celebrity who influences others. The truth is, we don't need to be famous to affect others. When the Apostle Paul prayed for his friends in Colossi, he hoped that "the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better” (Colossians 1:10). Living humble, Spirit-filled lives, we can trust God that others will notice and, we hope, follow the example God lets us provide.

Endure and Be Patient

When you pray for your friends and family, and strive to live a godly life before them, some will accept God's salvation, but others will not. This can be frustrating, but St. Paul continued in his prayer, "that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father” (Colossians 1:11-12a). You might not see the results of your prayers, but God knows your efforts; and your influence is valuable to those around you.

Share the Inheritance

God has given us an amazing gift, one that cannot run out nor be "used up." We are blessed to be able to share His love and the message of His salvation. St. Paul wrote, "He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light" (Colossians 1:12b). When it comes down to it, one of the best ways to influence people is to love God, live for Him, and help lead others to His eternal life.

Prayer, Care, and Share Jesus

Scripture: Col 1:9-14

We all know someone who doesn’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, or who may have even lost the faith they used to have in Him. Last week, I challenged you to choose five people in your life that you want to reach out to and share Jesus with. I called the challenge “Take 5”. If you haven’t thought about that, will you take a minute to do that now?

Here are some tips for completing the “Take 5” challenge:

• Set aside 5 minutes every day to pray for the people on your “Take 5” list.
• Pray that God will bless them and that they will ask Jesus to be their Savior.
• Scheduling 5 minutes to pray on your calendar will help you remember.

My life was changed because people did not stop praying for me: While I was in the hospital, someone visited me to share about Jesus. I believe he was sent from God. I was deeply moved and asked Jesus to be my Savior. My biggest surprise was still to come: When I told my wife what had happened, she confessed that she had been praying for EIGHT years that Jesus would show Himself to me. The previous eighteen months she had been diligently praying daily!

Our Lord is so good and merciful! The Apostle Paul led by example to pray for the Colossians without stopping (Col 1:9-14). He also thanked the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. You also should pray without stopping for people who need Jesus because their alternative is the dominion of darkness forever (Col 1:13).

Why pray for just five people? It may become overwhelming to pray diligently and intentionally for more than five. So, I suggest that you start with five and follow the Lord’s leading. If you only have 2 or 3 pray for them faithfully. Every soul is important!