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Colossians 4:2 – “Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Prayer is an expression of our heart to God. It is done in faith that God is, and that God is hearing our words. We express to God our longings and our worship.
Paul teaches in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that we should be praying without ceasing. He is describing a constantly and consistently in an attitude of devotion and worship. This should easily and naturally become an audible expression of prayer or worship as well.
Do I pray enough? Am I praying enough? Am I continually being persistent and devoted to prayer?
What triggers a petition to God? In a week, or a month, or even within a single day we can pray about a lot of things!
Philippians 4:4-7 – Our prayer list should include anything that is a care to us. Anything that makes us anxious. All the challenges of a day. It could be a major decision. It could also be a small difficulty or frustration that we need to deal with.
Those who leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s Hands in everything!
James 5:16, Luke 11:3 – There are “deeper” prayers that we can pray for ourselves.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 – Paul says that these folks were Christians but they had plenty of room for Growth. Paul prayed for them, but they also needed to pray for themselves and for each other.
Romans 15:5 – “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” Paul was concerned about their unity and harmony. He was praying for them and that they would be able to be in harmony and unified. God is the source of patience and comfort. Paul isn’t praying that they would all start thinking the same but that their minds would be like the mind of Jesus, kind, considerate, submitted to each other and caring and loving.
God hears our prayers and He does a work within us. It may not be instantaneous but it will make a difference.
Romans 15:13 – “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Regardless of what happens in our lives we will not be left alone, we will not be without God’s help and comfort in whatever comes. We can have hope!
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is a large prayer, a deep prayer, a big project. This is more than just forgiveness. We need forgiveness but we also need to deal with our carnal attitudes and thoughts and words and actions. Sometimes it feels like 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” Paul is praying for encouragement and strength for his readers. To be an effective worker of Christ, may God encourage us and establish us in His doctrine, truth and character as He develops us.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 – “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” Paul is praying for a direct channel into the love of God from our hearts.
Romans 8:38-39 - “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This love is more than just the affection that God feels towards us, but it is the love of God who cares for us and is involved in our life. He won’t leave us nor will He forsake us!
2 Thessalonians 3:16 - “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.”