St Paul's letters to the churches are
not only filled with the teaching of sound doctrine, challenging
exhortations, and stern reproof, but they reveal St Paul at prayer. As
St Paul teaches the inspired Word of God, he will break into prayer for
those he is teaching. These prayers are Inspired by the Holy Spirit the
same as the doctrines, exhortations, and reproofs are. And just like we
follow St Paul's doctrine, we can follow St Paul in prayer.
Ephesians 1:15-23 > In verses
3-14 of Ephesians chapter 1 St Paul lays out God's amazing plan for us
with all kinds of mystical complexities and divine revelation > Then
he prays for those who believe, that "God...may give unto you the spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (verses 3-14):
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what
is the hope of his (Christ) calling...." And on it goes. > This is
Paul's inspired intercessory prayer that we too can and should pray for
our fellow believers.
Ephesians 3:14-21 > Again we
see St Paul's Holy Spirit-inspired prayers for the Ephesian believers
> "That you may be strengthened with all might by His Spirit in the
inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you would
be rooted and grounded in love...that you might be filled with all the
fullness of God"
NOTE: Have you ever wanted
to know how to pray? Ever wanted to know what to pray? When to pray? I
hope to share with you truth from the Bible about prayer, and truth from
the ancient Church about prayer, and truth taught by the Church fathers
on prayer from over the centuries. The important thing is that it is
Truth, truth about prayer.
Colossians 1:9-11 > You can
mirror St Paul's prayers or tailor them for your prayers that you pray
for yourself and your brothers and sisters in Christ or anyone on your
prayer list. > Paul does not cease to pray for the Colossians these
prayers. He prays them repetitiously, daily, morning, noon, and night;
sometimes all night. Not vain repetitions, but faith repetitions!!! >
"that you might be filled with knowledge of God's will in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the
Lord...being fruitful in every good work...strengthened with all
might..." >
NOTE: The Psalms are the
"Song Book" or "Prayer book" of the Church. Each and every Psalm applies
to some part of our life's experience, even to different parts of each
and every day. Learn the Psalms, memorize the Psalms, learn to pray the
Psalms.
Philippians 1:9-11 > St Paul
prays "that your love may abound yet more and more...that you may be
sincere and without offence until the day of Christ; being filled with
the fruits of righteousness." >
***Here's a prayer that I wrote
based on these inspired prayers of St Paul that I tailored for my own
"prayer rule". To pray all of St Paul's prayers each and every time you
"stand to pray" or "someone comes to your mind" would not be practical.
So I created a prayer that I can say that is succinct and powerful and
true. I mention each person by name (first name will do) and I pray "Father,
that you would grant to each one the spirit of wisdom and revelation in
the knowledge of Jesus the Messiah, that the eyes of their
understanding would be enlightened to know what is the hope of Christ's
calling; That you would direct their hearts into the love of God,
strengthening them with all might by your Spirit in the inner man,
filling them with fruits of righteousness, and filling them with the
exact knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
establish their hearts in grace and truth, and may Christ Jesus dwell
in their hearts by faith".
1 Thessalonians 3:8-13 > Pray
for abounding love. Pray for established hearts in holiness. Pray for
believers to be ready for the Second Coming of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11,12; 3:1-5
> Pray for believers to be worthy of their calling. Pray that God's
power will work through faith in those you pray for. Pray that Jesus
Christ be glorified. Pray that God will direct their hearts into the
love of God. Pray that the Word of God have free course. Pray that
Preachers and believers have open doors of utterance. Pray that we be
delivered from absurd and wicked men. Pray that we be kept from evil.
> Romans 15:30-33
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