Wrestling Prayers for You

Colossians 4:12, 13a
NIV: “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. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you …” NCV: “Epaphras, a servant of Jesus Christ, from your group, also greets you. He always prays for you that you will grow to be spiritually mature and have everything God wants for you. I know he has worked hard for you …”

I like the KJV quote: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you…”
“Labouring fervently (Greek, agonize, from which we derive the English word “agonize”) denotes an intense desire, an agonizing, a wrestling, or striving in prayer. Faithful N.T. believers not only continued steadfast in prayer (v.2), but agonized with strong pleading in their prayers. The needs of our families, churches, and the world are no less significant today. We ought to pray fervently, knowing that in our struggles Christ’s power is working mightily in us (1:29). Note: The FULL LIFE Study Bible, D. Stamps.

“Laboring fervently” is the translation of a Greek word from which we get our word AGONY. It was used of wrestlers who in the Greek gymnastic games strained to overcome an opponent. The Merriam-Webster dictionary state: the word, agony means intense pain of mind and body 2: a strong sudden display of emotion: outburst (an agony of delight). WORD HISTORY In ancient Greece a public gathering was called agon. Since the Greeks placed a high value on sports and athletic competition, there were almost always athletic events at gatherings on festival days. The STRUGGLE to win the prize in such contests came to be called ‘agonia.’ This term came also to be used for any difficult physical struggle and then for the PAIN that went with it, physical or mental. Our English word agony, meaning “INTENSE PAIN OF MIND OR BODY,” thus comes from a word that originally meant a happy celebration. Etymology: Middle English agonie “agony,” from Latin agonia (same meaning), from Greek agonia “struggle,” from agon “gathering contest for a prize.”

This is a “cure” for the “lukewarm Christian” who needs to get into wrestling spirit of prayers. I am going through this sense of “lukewarm spirit” or “lazy spirit” atmosphere and I don’t like it. My friend is struggling. She cries a lot and is in a great pain. I didn’t understand why God hasn’t healed her until I read this verse “laboring fervently.” Then I understood that her intercessory prayer was like wrestling in prayer, striving in prayer, agony in prayers, cry a lot in prayers and speaking in tongues prayers for all the Deaf saints. Her agony prayers, “Lord, don’t let the Deaf go to hell without You, Jesus!” That is a true spirit of ‘a Greek wrestler.’ Be of good comfort! If you are going through the similar experience, just know that God is working mightily in you, needing this wrestling prayer’s breakthrough for all of us.

So trust God today.