A brief study of Apostle Paul’s prayers reveals an amazing spiritual insight. Christians would continue to grow spiritually (become spiritually mature), if we prayed like the Apostle Paul.
In his letters to the churches, Paul prayed more for their spiritual needs than their material needs. Historic Christianity is incessantly under attack. These attacks are intended to destroy a sincere Christian. Hence sincere Christians require greater spiritual strength to overcome the attacks of Satan.
We can grow spiritually, if only we ask (pray) for it. If we pray more for our spiritual needs, we would be spiritually stronger Christians.
As you read the prayers of the Apostle Paul, I pray that you would be filled with a burning desire to pray more for your spiritual needs than your material needs. The following compilation of his prayers is from the website of the Regent University.1
PRAYERS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, TOPICALLY ARRANGED
(NASB unless otherwise noted)
1.) FOR GODLY LIVING:
-- 2 Cor. 13:7 "Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right…."
-- 2 Cor. 13:9 (NIV) "...and our prayer is for your perfection."
-- Phil. 1:9-11 "And this I pray…that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ."
-- Col. 1:9-10 "…we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will…so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects…."
-- 1 Thes. 3:12-13 "…may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men…so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus…."
-- 1 Thes. 5:23 (NIV) "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."
-- 2 Thes. 1:11 (NIV) "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may coun you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."
-- 1 Tim. 2:1 "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."
2.) FOR MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY AND SUCCESS:
-- Rom. 1:9-11 "For God…is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established."
-- Rom. 15:30-31 "Now I urge you, brethren…to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints...."
-- Eph. 6:19 "...and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of mymouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel...."
-- Col. 1:10 (NIV) "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord…bearing fruit in every good work…."
-- 1 Thes. 3:10 (NIV) "Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith."
-- 2 Thes. 1:11 (NIV) "We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."
-- 2 Thes. 3:1 "Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you."
-- Phile.1:6 (NIV) "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a powerful understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."
3.) FOR STRENGTHENING:
-- Eph. 3:16-17 (NIV) "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
-- Col. 1:10-11 (NIV) "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord…being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…."
-- 1 Thes. 3:13 (NIV) "May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God…."
-- 2 Thes. 2:16 "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word."
4.) FOR INCREASED KNOWLEDGE...
A. OF THE LORD
-- Eph. 1:17 (NIV) "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better…."
-- Col. 9-10 "…we have not ceased to pray for you…that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...increasing in the knowledge of God."
B. Of HIS WILL:
-- Phil. 1:9-10 (NIV) "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best…."
-- Col. 1:9 "we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding...."
C. OF HIS LOVE:
-- Eph. 3:17b-19 (NIV) "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge…."
D. OF THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING:
-- Eph. 1:18 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling…."
E. OF THE RICHES WE HAVE:
-- Eph. 1:18 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know…what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…."
-- Phile.1:6 (NIV) "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."
F. OF HIS POWER:
-- Eph. 1:18-19 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know...what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."
5.) FOR MORE LOVE:
-- Phil. 1:9 "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and discernment…."
-- 1 Thes. 3:12 "…and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you."
-- 2 Thes. 3:5 "And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ."
6.) FOR GRACE AND PEACE:
-- 1 Cor. 1:3 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(Also similarly: 2 Cor. 1:2, 2 Cor. 13:14, Gal. 1:3, Gal 6:18, Eph. 1:2, Eph. 6:23-24, Phil. 1:2, Phil 4:23, Col. 1:26, 1 Thes. 1:1b, 1 Thes. 5:28, 2 Thes. 1:2, 1 Tim. 1:2, 1 Tim 6:21b, 2 Tim 1:2, Tit. 1:4, Phile. 1:3)
-- 2 Thes. 3:16 "Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance."
7.) FOR CHRISTIANS TO BE IN ONE ACCORD:
-- Rom. 15:5-6 "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
8.) FOR ISRAEL'S SALVATION:
-- Rom. 10:1 "Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them [Israel] is for their salvation."
9.) FOR CHRIST TO DWELL IN OUR HEARTS THROUGH FAITH:
-- Eph. 3:14-17 "…I bow my knees before the Father…that He would grant you…to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith...."
10.) FOR MORE HOPE:
-- Rom. 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
11.) FOR THE FULLNESS OF GOD:
-- Eph. 3:17-19 (NIV) "And I pray that you…may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Endnotes:
1https://www.regent.edu/lib/research/divinity/divinity-paul.pdf
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