Praying Scripture

It is easy to read over the first few verses of a letter written by the Apostles as they seem to give the same normal greeting.  I would challenge us to not do so as they convey the heart of these writers, conveying a heart we should have.  Paul in 1 Thessalonians tells his audience who he is praying for and what he is praying for them.

As we look at 1 Thessalonians 1:2, ponder on these questions: Who are you praying for as you? What are you praying as you pray for them?

I would hope you pray for family, friends, and your fellow church members. I hope you pray for leaders, both spiritual and political.  I hope you pray for the lost to be saved, for laborers who are on the field, and for laborers to go to the field. These are but a few suggestions of who you should be praying for.

Then, what are you praying for them?  I exhort you that your prayer time should include praying the prayers of scripture for others.  I am so grateful to God that the Spirit of God led His writers to include what they were praying as it helps me to know what I should be praying.

For instance, John in 3 John 1:2 wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

Peter wrote, in 2 Peter 1:2,  “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” (NLT)

In almost every letter the Apostle Paul wrote, he told them he was praying for them and told them what he prayed.  We do not have time nor space here to highlight each of those prayers but I encourage you to take notice of them when you come across them in your Bible reading.  I will say that Colossians 1:9-11 has had a tremendous impact on me as I have prayed it for years for myself and for others.  

Colossians 1:9- 11 says, “For this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  (pray for you and others to know the Will of God)
10  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, (pray that you and others have a walk that is pleasing to the Lord) being fruitful in every good work (pray that you and others have a work that is productive) and increasing in the knowledge of God; (pray that you and others increase in your wisdom about God) 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; (pray that you and others are strengthened to withstand trials and temptations.) 

As you look to answer what you pray, I encourage you to incorporate Colossians 1:9-11 into your prayer time. 

Continue Strong with a commitment to pray for others and pray the prayers of scripture
and remember to Date the Word!