Monday, February 27, 2006
First Spiritual Topic for Prayer
Dear Friends,
My last article related the general principle that God desires for us to pray more about matters spiritual than matters physical. So, then, about what spiritual concerns are we supposed to pray, if we mean to be excellent in prayer? Most of the prayers recorded in the New Testament prayers cover one of several general topics.
The first topic is LOVE. Paul regularly prayed that the new believers he had fathered would revel in Christ’s love, and also would have love for each other. See these scriptures:
(Philippians 1:9-11) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, (10) so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, (11) filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.
(1 Thessalonians 3:12) May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
(2 Thessalonians 3:5) May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
(Ephesians 3:16-19) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, (18) may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, (19) and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
This is what Jesus desires for us, as well. He said to His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
The next time we pray, let’s be sure to pray for our churches that the people will know Jesus’ love, and will have love for each other.
Love in Christ,
Jeff
My last article related the general principle that God desires for us to pray more about matters spiritual than matters physical. So, then, about what spiritual concerns are we supposed to pray, if we mean to be excellent in prayer? Most of the prayers recorded in the New Testament prayers cover one of several general topics.
The first topic is LOVE. Paul regularly prayed that the new believers he had fathered would revel in Christ’s love, and also would have love for each other. See these scriptures:
(Philippians 1:9-11) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, (10) so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, (11) filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.
(1 Thessalonians 3:12) May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
(2 Thessalonians 3:5) May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
(Ephesians 3:16-19) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, (18) may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, (19) and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
This is what Jesus desires for us, as well. He said to His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
The next time we pray, let’s be sure to pray for our churches that the people will know Jesus’ love, and will have love for each other.
Love in Christ,
Jeff
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