If you were sitting in jail, what would you ask people to pray for? Your release, your health, your safety. Well, as Apostle Paul sat in jail for nothing more than sharing the gospel, he had one urgent prayer request he sent to the church in Colossae there in chapter 4 of his letter to them, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak,” (Colossians 4:2–4).

That was his biggest prayer need: “God help me share Jesus clearly.” His request certainly reveals his heart, but it also reveals something we often miss: prayer and evangelism are inseparable. He didn’t ask the church to do more outreach. He asks them to pray for it, that God would open doors for the gospel.

Prayer doesn’t just prepare us to share the gospel. It opens the doors through which the gospel travels. We can strategize, program, and promote, but only God can soften a heart. Prayer aligns us with His mission and reminds us that the conversion part of the act of evangelism is His work, not ours.

So pray for names. Pray for moments. Pray for boldness when the door swings open. The most powerful thing you can do for the lost people around you may not happen in a conversation. It may happen on your knees before you even meet them.

Change begins in you!