Not My Strength
I have mentioned here before that prayer is not my strength. That is being generous. But something seems to be changing. Yesterday in our Wednesday morning group we spent more time in prayer than in the Word. It was a good time.
Rebuked by the Lord
This morning on the way to the early Thursday study the Lord seemed to be rebuking me for my selfishness. Selfishness in my unwillingness, I have to call it like it is, to really buckle down in the area of prayer when I know better.
Led by the Lord
This afternoon I was working through 2 Thessalonians and I was struck, again, by the amount of space in the first three chapters that Paul shares what he is praying for the Thessalonian believers. I was given specific instruction and help on how to pray more effectively
Paul’s Example
Application
I spent some time praying for some people this afternoon using these passages as a guide. For the first time in a long time I felt I was actually accomplishing something in prayer. It was a refreshing and encouraging time.
I have mentioned here before that prayer is not my strength. That is being generous. But something seems to be changing. Yesterday in our Wednesday morning group we spent more time in prayer than in the Word. It was a good time.
This morning on the way to the early Thursday study the Lord seemed to be rebuking me for my selfishness. Selfishness in my unwillingness, I have to call it like it is, to really buckle down in the area of prayer when I know better.
Led by the Lord
This afternoon I was working through 2 Thessalonians and I was struck, again, by the amount of space in the first three chapters that Paul shares what he is praying for the Thessalonian believers. I was given specific instruction and help on how to pray more effectively
Paul’s Example
| Verse | Prayer Request |
| 1:3 | For greatly enlarged faith |
| 1:4 | To endure perseverance and faith in persecution and affliction |
| 1:11 | That God will count them worthy of their calling |
| 1:11 | That God will fulfill their desire for goodness and the work of faith with power |
| 2:12 | Thanks that God has chosen them for salvation through the Spirit and faith in the truth |
| 2:14 | Thanks that they were called through the gospel |
| 2:14 | That they would gain the glory of Christ |
| 2:16 | Thanks that God loves them |
| 2:16 | For eternal comfort and good hope through God’s grace |
| 2:17 | Comfort and strengthened hearts in every good work and deed. |
| 3:1 | That the Word of the Lord would spread rapidly and be glorified through their lives |
| 3:2 | That they would be rescued from perverse and evil men |
| 3:5 | That their hearts would be directed into the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ |
Application
I spent some time praying for some people this afternoon using these passages as a guide. For the first time in a long time I felt I was actually accomplishing something in prayer. It was a refreshing and encouraging time.
Michael, I completely resonate with you. For me Bible study is exhilarating and comes as natural as breathing. It is the primary way that I experience God. Prayer, however, doesn't come nearly as easily for me. But I recently read "Transforming Prayer" by Daniel Henderson. It is about worship-based, Scripture-fed, Spirit-led prayer, rather than request-based prayer. It is biblically and theologically sound, and It is making a huge difference in my prayer life! If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. Blessings! Ben Reid
ReplyDeleteBen, thanks for the heads up, I will get that.
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