“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.” Philippians 1:9-11
St. Paul made a regular habit of praying for God’s people in all of his letters. He petitions the Lord for all that is already in the will of God and does so with great love and sincerity. See how many requests he brings to God on our behalf in just this one prayer. He asks for an abounding love and knowledge and insight. He asks for spiritual discernment for the sake of purity so that we might be fully righteous and does so through Christ that God may receive the glory and praise. All of these requests are given so that we may be sustained until the end when God finally calls us home and out of this fallen world.
Paul leaves a wonderful example for all of us to follow in offering intercessory prayer. We too should make a regular habit of praying for others those things that are in the will of God. The Lord wants to bless us with His good gifts, but He also wants us to ask for those gifts. Our spiritual lives are intended to be lives of growth, ever maturing in the faith, so that when the Lord calls us to our eternal rest, we have been sustained and found ready.
Perhaps you will make a habit of praying Paul’s words for others, or will find your own words by which to petition God on behalf of others and even yourself. The Lord loves when His Children ask for good gifts and He is always ready to answer in the affirmative!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Kilian