Monday, August 10, 2015

Pray for Me

How do you pray for other believers? What does your prayer list look like?

Usually, it's a list of physical problems. Cancer. Broken bones. Surgeries.

Occasionally there are some financial problems. Needs a job. Starting a new job.

Sometimes there are events. Sunday services. Camp. Retreats.

Look at Paul's prayer for the Philippian believers:

"And it is my prayer for you that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment so that you may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God" (Phil 1:9-11).

He had thanked them for the love that they had shown him and was praying that that would continually increase.

He prayed that they would also grow in knowledge and discernment. Not that they would make better financial decisions. Not that they would get better grades.

He desired them to grow in knowledge and discernment, so that they would have victory over temptation.

Knowledge and discernment to know what is excellent, and to choose that. Sin is not excellent. Christ is.

He desired them to be able to stand before Christ, pure and blameless.

He desired for them to be able to act in the righteousness of Christ, not in their own righteousness.

So that God would get the glory and praise.

I don't know about you, but I don't pray that way very often for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

And I know that's the kind of prayer that I need.

Will you pray for me?

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