Because we want to pray better prayers, we need to study the Apostle’s prayers… so, let’s model our prayers after Paul’s.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3), “the God of peace” (1 Thessalonians 5:23), “the God of hope” (Romans 15:13), “the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17, ESV), “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!” (Titus 2:13).
We give thanks because of “the grace of God that was given to (us) in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4). “At one time we were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (Titus 3:3, NIV). Although we have all “sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (we) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23–24). “We have peace with God” (Romans 5:1) only because “Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). We “were dead in your trespasses and sins… But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love… made us alive with Christ” (Ephesians 2:1-5).
We no longer face “condemnation (because we are) in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Indeed, because we are “in Christ, (we are) new creations!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”(Ephesians 2:10) and “in Christ Jesus, (we) who were far away have been brought near” (Ephesians 2:13). Astonishingly, we “are God’s temple and .. the Spirit of God lives in (us)” (1 Corinthians 3:16).
We earnestly “pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give (us) the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. (We) pray that the eyes of (our) heart may be enlightened so that (we) may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength” (Ephesians 1:17–19).
We humbly “kneel before the Father… and pray that He may grant (us), according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in (our) inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in (our) hearts through faith. (We) pray that … being rooted and firmly established in love, (we) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that (we) may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14–19).
Lord Jesus Christ, grant us faith to believe that we “can do all things through him who strengthens” (Philippians 4:13, ESV), and help us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let (our) requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, ESV). Help us understand that Your great grace is always completely “sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
We pray “that our God will make (us) worthy of his calling … so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified … according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11–12).
Grant us courage to never be “ashamed of the gospel, (knowing that) it is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16), and “that the sharing of (our) faith may become effective … for the sake of Christ” (Philemon 6, ESV). Help us, we pray, to “spread the aroma of the knowledge of him” (2 Corinthians 2:14) into our homes and neighborhoods, across our land, and around the world.
“Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15), we pray for ourselves, and for all our Christian brothers and sisters; that “the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant (us) to live in harmony with one another” (Romans 15:5); that “the God of hope will fill (us) with all joy and peace … so that (we) may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13); that “the Lord of peace himself give (us) peace always in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16); that our “love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that (we) may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9–11).
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray” (Colossians 1:3), asking that we would be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience”(Colossians 1:11). Our “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings are made for everyone, for kings” (1 Timothy 2:1–2), for those in the government, and all who are in culturally significant positions.
“Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus … cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone … May he make (our) hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:11–13). “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:13). “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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