A new booklet for devotional and congregational use:
PDF
Prayers
for the Saints
Learning
to Pray for Spiritual Growth
with the Apostle Paul
The following prayers are taken from
Paul’s letters. The translation is from the English Standard Version.
Adjustments in wording have been made to accommodate their use in personal
supplication to God. Pronouns have also been converted to proper nouns in some
cases.
The Lord works within the saints to
produce both the ability and desire to do His will (Php. 2:13). These petitions
seek to call forth this blessing, imploring God to strengthen us inwardly,
grant us understanding, and to help us hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Consider making a 30 day commitment to
praying these prayers every day, for yourself, our church, and for others.
Prayer #1 – Ephesians 1:16-23
For
Wisdom and Spiritual Enlightenment
God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, give to [____________] a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in
the knowledge of You, having the eyes of [his/her/my/our]
heart(s) enlightened, that [he/she/I/we]
may know what is the hope to which You have called [him/her/me/us], what are the riches of Your glorious inheritance in
the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who
believe, according to the working of Your great might that You worked in Christ
when You raised him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the
heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and
above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to
come. Put all things in [___________’s/my life] in subjection to Christ, even
as You have put all things under Christ’s feet and gave Him as head over all
things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in
all. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
Prayer #2 – Ephesians 3:14-21
For
Comprehension of Christ’s Love
I bow my knees before You, Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches
of Your glory You may grant [____________/me/us]
to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in [his/her/my/our] inner being, so that Christ may dwell in [his/her/my/our] heart(s) through faith—so
that, being rooted and grounded in love, [he/she/I/we]
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses
knowledge, that [he/she/I/we] may be
filled with all Your fullness. Now to You, Father, who are able to do far more
abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within
us, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer # 3 – Romans 15:5-7, 13
For
Fellowship, Joy, and Hope
Holy God, please give to us
perseverance and encouragement and grant that we may be of the same mind with
one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord we may with one
voice glorify You, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to
accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
You are the God of hope. Please fill
us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may abound in hope. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
Prayer # 4 – Philippians 1:9-11
For
Intelligent, Fruitful Love
Holy God and Father, we pray that our
love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that we
may approve the things that are excellent, that we may be sincere and without
offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness
which are by Jesus Christ, to Your glory and praise. Amen.
Prayer #5 – 1st Thessalonians 3:12-13
For Growing, Blameless Love
Lord, make us increase and abound in
love to one another and to all, and establish our hearts blameless in holiness
before our God and Father at Your coming with all of Your saints. Amen.
Prayer # 6 – Colossians 1:9-12
For Increasing Knowledge and Fruitfulness
Lord, help us never to cease to pray for the
spiritual growth of your saints. We ask that [____________] may be filled with the knowledge
of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a
manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to You, bearing fruit in every good
work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May [____________] be strengthened with all power,
according to Your glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,
giving thanks to You, our Father, who has qualified us to share in the
inheritance of the saints in light. In the Savior’s name. Amen.
Prayer # 7 – Colossians 4:2-6
For Wisdom in Speech and Witness
Lord, help us to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful
in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, please open to us a door for the
word, to declare the mystery of Christ, so that we may make it clear, which is
how we ought to speak. Help us to walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the
best use of the time. Let our speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so
that we may know how we ought to answer each person. For Christ’s sake. Amen.
Prayer # 8 – 1st Tim. 1:17; 2nd
Tim. 4:18
Doxology
To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be
honor and glory forever and ever.
May the Lord rescue us from every evil deed and
bring us safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and
ever. Amen.
