Podcast Summary: Renewing Your Mind
Episode: Praying with Paul
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Speaker: Rev. Joel Kim
Series: Everything in Christ (Colossians Study)
Overview
This episode centers on the theme of prayer, specifically how the Apostle Paul’s own prayer life—recorded in his epistles—teaches Christians about true spiritual maturity and dependence on God. Drawing from the Book of Colossians, Rev. Joel Kim outlines Paul’s approach to prayer, highlighting its constancy, character, content, and the confidence with which he prays. Listeners are challenged to compare their prayer lives to Paul’s and are encouraged to grow in greater dependence and thankfulness toward the Lord.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Spiritual Maturity and Dependence on God
- (00:00–01:11)
- Christian maturity is not marked by independence, but by increasing dependence on the Lord.
- As believers grow older and wiser, they realize their need for God grows deeper.
- Quote:
"The marker of maturity for Christians is not independence away from the Lord; it's greater dependence upon the Lord."
(Joel Kim, 00:33)
2. The Power and Example of Praying Parents
- Rev. Kim shares a personal story reflecting on how prayer marked his upbringing and his desire to be remembered by his children as a person of prayer.
- He references D.A. Carson:
"The worst possible heritage to leave with children [is] high spiritual pretensions and low performance. My parents were the opposite: few pretensions and disciplined performance."
(Joel Kim/DA Carson, 01:45)
3. Paul’s Emphasis on Prayer in Colossians
- Constancy of Prayer
- Paul’s prayers are unceasing; he prays with gratitude always (Colossians 1:3, 1:9; 4:2).
-
"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you."
(Joel Kim quoting Paul, 03:08) - This constancy is not about mystical experiences, but a persistent, daily spirit of prayer.
- Characteristic of Prayer: Thankfulness
- Paul repeatedly thanks God for the Colossians’ faith, love, and hope.
- Triad of Christian Virtues: Faith, Love, Hope (Colossians 1:4–5)
- This echoes other letters:
"I thank my God through Christ Jesus for all of you."
(Romans 1:8)
"I give thanks to my God always for you."
(1 Corinthians 1:4) - Kim points out:
"The truth is that what we most frequently give thanks for betrays what we most highly value... Paul is thankful for signs of grace among the Colossians."
(Joel Kim, 09:10)
- This echoes other letters:
- Paul’s gratitude is not for material things, but for spiritual transformation.
4. The Gospel's Global Impact and the Colossians’ Place in It
- (11:30–15:20)
- The same Gospel being proclaimed everywhere is active and bearing fruit in Colossae.
- Paul encourages them, though their city and church seem small and insignificant, to see themselves as part of God’s global work.
- Kim reflects on Korean church history as an example of the Gospel’s reach and influence.
-
"The greatest apostle writes to them and reminds them: This same Gospel I proclaimed elsewhere has come to you... and its power is seen in you."
(Joel Kim, 13:55)
5. Content and Focus of Paul’s Prayers
- (16:30–21:20)
- Paul’s prayers focus heavily on others, even those he’s never met (e.g., the Colossians).
- He prays for their growth and maturity—not material things, but spiritual depth.
-
"How much of our prayers is about me, myself, and I?... Nowhere else is this seen more clearly than in our prayers."
(Joel Kim, 16:50)
6. What Does Maturity Look Like?
- Paul prays the Colossians would be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”
- (19:02–21:20)
- Marks of maturity listed:
- Bearing fruit in every good work
- Increasing in knowledge of God
- Being strengthened for endurance and patience with joy
- Giving thanks
-
"He prays that this is effectively taking place in your hearts... that as he prays for the Colossians, he prays that they continue to bear fruit because of the work of Christ Jesus in our hearts."
(Joel Kim, 20:55)
7. Confidence in Prayer
- Paul’s prayers are full of confidence—not in himself, but in God’s redemptive work through Christ (Colossians 1:13–14).
-
"He recognizes that he belongs to Christ Jesus... Christ Jesus, who is the possessor of all wisdom and power, the Creator of heavens and the earth, the One who redeemed and saved all his people, will hear him."
(Joel Kim, 22:20)
8. A Closing Reminder—Never Weary of Prayer
- Kim quotes John Calvin’s prayer as encouragement:
"Grant Almighty God, that... we may through life exercise ourselves in prayer. And as so many evils disturb us... may we be led more earnestly to call on you, and in the meanwhile be never wearied in this exercise of prayer."
(Joel Kim quoting Calvin, 23:35) - The episode closes on the exhortation to “pray unceasingly that the Gospel of God's grace may work in us” (23:55).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On what we value in prayer:
"The truth is that what we most frequently give thanks for betrays what we most highly value."
(Joel Kim, 09:08) -
On the global Gospel:
"The same Gospel I proclaimed elsewhere has come to you... and its power is seen in you."
(Joel Kim, 13:55) -
On Paul's prayer for the Colossians:
"We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him."
(Joel Kim quoting Paul, 19:04) -
On maturity:
"The marker of maturity for Christians is not independence away from the Lord; it’s greater dependence upon the Lord."
(Joel Kim, 00:33 & 07:25, repeated for emphasis) -
On confidence in prayer:
"He recognizes that he belongs to Christ Jesus... the Creator and Redeemer, in whom all things hold together. It's to whom and it's through whom we lift up our prayer."
(Joel Kim, 22:22)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00–01:11: Introduction; spiritual dependence vs. independence
- 01:12–03:10: Personal story and the example of praying parents
- 03:11–06:40: Paul’s constancy in prayer—always, without ceasing
- 06:41–11:10: Thankfulness as a feature of Paul’s prayers
- 11:11–15:25: The gospel's global work and the Colossians’ connection to it
- 15:26–19:01: Content of Paul’s prayers—focus on others
- 19:02–21:20: Maturity in Christ as Paul’s prayer focus
- 21:21–23:20: Confidence in God to hear our prayers
- 23:21–24:10: Closing with Calvin’s prayer; enduring in prayer
Tone & Takeaway
Rev. Kim’s tone is pastoral, reflective, and motivating. He weaves personal anecdotes, biblical exposition, and practical application to drive home the call to a life of persistent, thankful, and others-focused prayer. The episode challenges listeners to examine the content and character of their prayer lives in light of Scripture and the example set by the Apostle Paul.
In summary:
Rev. Kim’s message is a call to evaluate our prayer lives, to shift focus from ourselves to others, foster gratitude for spiritual growth, and to cultivate confidence rooted in Christ’s redemptive work. The Colossians’ example—and Paul’s prayers for them—become both a mirror and a model for Christian maturity today.