Philemon 1:22

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.

This statement of Paul's purpose of visiting again in Colossae would seem to be added here as further persuasion in Paul's appeal. It carries the weight of "Of course, you will eventually have to face me in regard to your handling of this request." It is not necessary to suppose that Paul had given up his stated intention of going to Spain, because some kind of fund-raising trip would probably have been antecedent to the actual trip anyway. There would have been no better place for Paul to have gone on such a mission than Asia Minor.

Through your prayers ... Although Paul seemed to be optimistic concerning his forthcoming release, he nevertheless willed that the matter should continue to be the object of fervent prayers on his behalf of the Christians. As Ellis said:

It is noteworthy that the apostle who is most insistent about the sovereignty of God is equally convinced that God accomplish his purposes through human instruments. He did not request prayers of Philemon, but assumed them.[38]