Paul told us to “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. I think many of us have a hard time praying all the time, and when we do pray, it is common to focus on one of a few things: healing, finances, or safety. When I look at the weekly prayer list at our own small church, it is quite long with many requests, primarily for healing. This is in accordance with James 5:13-16… we ARE to pray for the sick and suffering, and after we confess our sins one to another. But why is it that the average evangelical Christian prays primarily for healing? Are there other things about which we are to pray?
I took a look at what Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus (a commercial and religious center of Asia Minor), written during his first two-year imprisonment. He prayed:
-That God would give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him
-That they would know what is the hope of His calling
-That they would know what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints
-That they would know what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe
(Ephesians 1:16-19)
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For the believers in Philippi (a town established by the father of Alexander the Great), he prayed:
-That their love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that they might approve the things that are excellent
-That they would be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ
-That they would be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God
(Philippians 1:9)
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For the believers in Corinth (a cosmopolitan center which thrived on commerce, entertainment, vice and corruption), he prayed to God:
-That they would do no evil (2 Cor. 13:7).
He also instructed them that if they spoke in tongues, that they also pray for the interpretation (1 Cor. 14:13)
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For the believers in Thessolonica (a prosperous city within sight of Mount Olympus), he prayed:
-That God would count them worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power
-That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be gloirified in them, and they in Him, according to the grace of our God in the Lord Jesus Christ
(2 Thess. 1:11)
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For the believers in Colosse (a city about 100 miles east of Ephesus), he prayed:
-That they would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
-That they would have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him
-That they would be fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God
-That they would be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy
-That they would be giving thanks to the Father who had qualified them to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints of light
(Colossians 1:9-12)
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Paul told Timothy to instruct the church to pray for those in authority. Why? So that they would be able to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Tim. 2:1)
Jesus prayed in John 17:15 that the Father would keep those given to Him, and those who would believe, from the evil one.
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What if we dared to start praying as Paul prayed? What if we prayed for our brothers, sisters, and ourselves, that we would have walks worthy of Him… that we would KNOW the hope of His calling… that we would be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, and so-forth?
The next time you have a quiet moment with God, take a peek at some of the passages I mentioned. Insert your name or the name of someone for whom you’re praying into some of those verses, in place of the word “you” or “they”. Personalize your prayers, and pray as Paul prayed, and see what the Holy Spirit does.
If you pray like this in a more public setting, you may want to be prepared for some surprised looks. That’s ok! We need to inspire each other to pray boldly and biblically.
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