Although Paul was not one of the twelve Disciples, nor was he one of the seventy-two Jesus sent out on missions to minister, his zeal for following Jesus Christ is unapparelled. He openly admitted that he had been the chief sinner and, as a Pharisee, the chief persecutor of those who followed Christ. Yet after being chosen by Jesus, Paul became the one of the greatest examples of what it means to be born again. If Paul were alive today, he would rightly be called a prayer warrior.
His affection for prayer gives us one of the shortest verses in the Bible: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He taught us to let our requests be made known to God with prayer and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). It was Paul is who instructed followers of Christ to pray for all people — including political leaders — because when society is at peace, the Gospel can spread more freely (1 Timothy 2:1-2). But what is it about Paul’s prayers in Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians that align them with the will of God — and can do the same for us today?
Paul shows that prayer forms the foundation of the church — the body of Christ — by opening each of the aforementioned epistles with prayer. Regardless of the issues that prompted his letters to these churches, even though verse divisions were not a part of the original letters, we see that each begins with Paul praying. This shows how important he felt prayer was in correcting the course of a congregation. The modern church teaches that prayers should be made in order to correct the course of a person’s life, it even teaches to pray for others. But there is a stark contrast to today, and what we see in Paul’s prayers.
Modern prayer takes “making requests known to God” and with it forms the foundation of prayer — asking for material things. Turning the promise that “God will supply all your needs through His riches in Christ Jesus”, into a service, rather than receiving it as a gift of grace. Another prayer that is common today is the “why me” prayer. Even though scripture teaches that trials, tribulations, and afflictions will come, many believers still find it strange when they do. Much worse, wavering faith has become common when prayers are not answered according to personal expectation. But if all of God’s promises are true, why aren’t more prayers met with the expectations they are made with?
The answer is shockingly simple. Paul’s prayers are faith centered — driven by a desire to understand God, learn to be Christ like, and effortlessly receive God’s promises to His children. In Ephesians 1:17-19 prays “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened: that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints: And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”
When you pray for spiritual wisdom (James 1:5), the Holy Spirit can enlighten you to God’s will for your life — “the hope of His calling.” Scripture teaches that it is the Holy Spirit who gives spiritual gifts to believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11-13). God has a plan for each of His children, and He provides them with the gifts needed to fulfill that plan. Rooted faith is what positions us to receive “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” — the glory of God shining through the child of God. Not works. Not wishful thinking. Faith aligned with God’s will.
In Philippians 1:9-11 Paul prays, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment. That ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere, and without offense till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.”
This aligns perfectly with the will of God because, God is love. Jesus even commands His followers to love each other as He loves them (John 13:34). When we pray to learn how to love — and that love begins to grow in us — we naturally start producing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance. The traits keep us from being offensive, angry, or easily stressed. And when these traits emanate from us, others are far less likely to be offensive, angry, and stressful toward us.
Are not these the exact traits most people seek for their own lives?
Colossians 1:9-12 encompasses all of the previous prayers, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God: Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness.”
Although Paul prayed these prayers to those he ministered to, he was also instructing them on what to pray for themselves — and we too should pray in the same way — for spiritual wisdom, understanding, and love. Spiritual wisdom to discern the path God has prepared for us, that we may receive our blessings and hearts desires. We pray for spiritual understanding so we can learn God’s ways and grow to be Christ like. And we pray for love, so that by producing the fruit of the Spirit, others see God shining through us.
We don’t have to pray for God to give us material things in this temporal world that He has already provided for us in the spiritual realm. Instead, we pray for the spiritual wisdom and guidance to manifest what He has already promised. When our prayers align with His will, His blessings unfold in our lives, effortlessly by walking in the Spirit.
Father God in Heaven, I thankfully pray for all that You are and how wonderfully and fearfully You made me to be. I pray that my heart grows in love so that in me You are seen. I pray that my spiritual understanding deepens giving me greater understanding of Your ways, and into Christ Jesus who lives in me. I pray for abounding wisdom in Your Word and into your path for my life, so that I may be a good and faithful servant, and a blessing to others. In Christ Jesus name I pray. Amen