One of the most significant ways to support new converts is through prayer. In the Epistles, the Apostle Paul frequently offers prayers for the new believers in the churches he planted or influenced. These prayers provide a model for how we, as pastors and believers, should pray for new converts today, especially in light of their spiritual challenges. Paul’s prayer in Colossians is particularly insightful for understanding how to lift new believers in prayer.

1. Thanksgiving for Their Salvation and Faith

In the opening of Colossians, Paul sets an example of thanksgiving for the new believers’ faith:

“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints” (Colossians 1:3-4, NKJV).

A vital part of our prayers for new converts should be expressing gratitude to God for their salvation and growing faith. They have made the most critical decision by putting their faith in Christ, a cause for celebration! When praying, we can thank God for saving them and planting them within the body of Christ.

2. Pray for Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding

Paul continues his prayer by asking for spiritual wisdom and understanding for the Colossians:

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9, NKJV).

New believers need to grow in their knowledge of God’s will. As they navigate their new life in Christ, they must discern how to live out their faith practically. By praying for spiritual wisdom and understanding, we ask God to guide them into a deeper relationship with Him. This wisdom helps them avoid pitfalls, doctrinal errors, and distractions that could weaken their faith.

3. Pray for a Walk Worthy of the Lord

Another essential focus in Paul’s prayer is that new believers would live lives worthy of the Lord:

“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10, NKJV).

The Christian walk is about knowing God and living in a way that reflects Christ to the world. New converts must understand that their lives testify to God’s transformative power. We should pray that their conduct—whether in word or deed—would be pleasing to God and that they would bear spiritual fruit as they grow in faith.

4. Pray for Strength and Endurance

Paul also highlights the importance of strength and endurance for the new converts:

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (Colossians 1:11, NKJV).

The journey of faith can be challenging, and new believers, in particular, may face opposition, trials, or internal struggles. Therefore, it is vital to pray for them to be strengthened by God’s power so that they can endure these trials with patience and joy. The world's pressures and the enemy's schemes are often aimed at weakening or discouraging new converts. We ask God to fortify them against these attacks by praying for divine strength.

5. Pray for a Deepening Relationship with Jesus

New converts need to grow in their personal relationship with Christ. Paul’s prayer in Colossians emphasizes the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ in all things:

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:17-18, NKJV).

As we pray, we can ask that Christ become the centre of their lives and that they understand His preeminence in all areas—spiritual, emotional, and relational. Our prayers can focus on them developing a deep love for Jesus, recognizing Him as the source of all life, and relying on Him daily.

6. Pray for Protection Against False Doctrine

New believers are often more susceptible to false teachings, which is why Paul often writes about it in his letters. In Colossians, he warns them not to be deceived:

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8, NKJV).

Our prayers should include asking God to protect new converts from the subtle deceptions of the world, false doctrine, and anything that might draw them away from the simplicity of the Gospel. They need discernment to hold fast to sound doctrine and grow in the truth.

7. Pray for Their Continual Growth and Maturity

Paul emphasizes the importance of maturity in Christ for new believers:

“That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28, NKJV).

Our prayers should not just be for the initial steps of conversion but for the long-term growth and maturity of new converts. We can pray that they would press on to maturity, becoming disciples who make other disciples. As Paul describes elsewhere, new believers should grow from spiritual infancy to adulthood, becoming strong, rooted, and fruitful in their faith.

Praying for new converts is a sacred responsibility. The Apostle Paul’s prayers, particularly in Colossians, offer a clear blueprint for us. We can follow his example by praying for their spiritual growth, strength, wisdom, and protection. Our prayers' goal is not just to survive the early stages of their Christian walk but to thrive and mature into fully devoted followers of Christ. As we partner with God in prayer, we can trust that He will complete the good work He has started in them (Philippians 1:6).

Let us continually lift new converts, knowing that prayer is a powerful tool in helping them stand firm, grow in their faith, and reflect Christ in every aspect of their lives.