Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced Christians, in complete obedience to God's will.

For this reason we have always prayed for you, ever since we heard about you. We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, with all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.

As for me, the LORD forbid that I should sin against him by no longer praying for you. Instead, I will teach you what is good and right for you to do.

If you had your way, no one would fear God; no one would pray to him.

What hope is there for the godless in the hour when God demands their life?

They should have desired the joy he gives; they should have constantly prayed to him.

But I call to the LORD God for help, and he will save me.

Morning, noon, and night my complaints and groans go up to him, and he will hear my voice.

They oppose me, even though I love them and have prayed for them.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.

Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.

Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.

Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

pray at all times,

be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the time will come.

Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man."

The end of all things is near. You must be self-controlled and alert, to be able to pray.

Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.

The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.

Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father.