A Life Changing Prayer

Ever wonder what to pray for those you love and care deeply about but don’t really know what the heck to ask? All you can get out of your prayer is, “God, please just … bless them and be with them.” If God did answer that prayer I wonder if we’d even notice. I figure if I am going to pray then I might as well pray something that God wants and will definitely answer. I have a hard time getting myself around to praying anyway. The Bible does show us what God wants for us and how to pray accordingly. Here is just one of many ways we can pray. It is from Paul as he prays for the church in Philippi. Don’t just recite it, but focus on the heart of God in this prayer.

Philippians 1:9–11  And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

that your love may abound more and more – Pray for their love for God and for others to grow immensely. Not only to grow but to abound. And more and more!

in knowledge and depth of insight – May the Lord to give them a very intimate relational knowledge of Himself and to have those “Aha!” moments of truly understanding how incredible He is. Pray also that their love for others would be more intimate and to have those times of understanding how deeply they really love those around them.

so that you may be able to discern what is best – May their decisions be not based upon self-interest but upon their love for God and others. May this then lead them to make the very best decisions.

and may be pure and blameless – May their love for God and others also lead them to a life of purity and holiness.
until the day of Christ – May they lead holy and blameless lives not only today but everyday, until the great day of Christ’s return.

filled with the fruit of righteousness – May their lives overflow with righteousness (doing the right things and making wrongs right) to be a blessing to those around them. May others enjoy the fruit of their lives.

that comes through Jesus Christ – May their lives overflow with spiritual fruit that comes from walking closely with Christ and not through self-effort.

to the glory and praise of God. May their life be one of great glory to God. May others see and praise God because of their life.

I can’t wait to see how the Lord will work in us and those we love as we seek Him all the more! Keep praying!

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