Pray Like an Apostle

Pray like an apostle. Does that seem like a tall order? If you look at the writings of the apostle Paul, you will see what he often prayed about. They are basic things that we also should pray about. At the beginning of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and 1 Thessalonians, Paul describes four things he includes in his prayers, and he repeats almost the same thing in each of these letters. Paul says to the Christians in these cities that he gives thanks to God for the faith they have in Jesus. Paul also gives thanks for the love they have for all the saints. He prays that the Father will give them a spirit of wisdom and knowledge of God and what He has done for them. He also prays that they will live in a way that is pleasing to God.

We likewise should give thanks to God for the faith in Jesus we see in our brothers and sisters here at Watterson Trail, around the world and throughout history. We are not alone in our faith; rather, we are part of a large, eternal family that is trusting in Jesus. We should also give thanks to God for the love that exists among us as believers, seeing and appreciating the good that we do for one another and the service we render to one another for the sake of Christ. Let us give thanks for the love we see and pray that our love for one another grows.

We should also pray for one another that we grow in our understanding and knowledge of God, what He has done for us and of His will for us. With this understanding comes wisdom and hope, and it should equip us to actually lead good lives that reflect the faith, love and hope that we have in Jesus. Let’s pray like the apostle Paul.

“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, 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, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God . . .”