A new blog from Terry Nightingale
We all know that prayer is important; and that regular time in the Lord’s Presence is as vital as food or oxygen. But occasionally we might find our minds going blank and wondering what to pray about. If that ever happens to you, Scripture – God’s Word comes to the rescue.
Today, we are going to look at two occasions when the Apostle Paul allowed us into His prayer closet. In each case, he tells us what is on his heart to pray. These can guide us in our conversations with God too. From each passage, I have constructed my prayer. Maybe the Lord will inspire you to do the same – either a prayer for yourself or one for others in your care.
The first one is from Ephesians 1:16-19 (CSB)
“I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength”.
Here is a personal prayer based on this: “Lord, I want to know you better. As I read and meditate on your Word, please fill me with the Spirit of wisdom. Please deepen my understanding of You with revelations of holy truth. Let the eyes of my heart be opened to all that you might reveal to me – the depths of future hope, a clearer grasp of your calling and will; and the riches of all that is available to us through faith. And Lord, let me not limit you by small thinking. Your power and strength are infinite and mighty. Amen”
The second passage comes from Colossians 1: 9 – 12 (CSB). It is similar to the first, but it has some important additions.
“For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light” .
Here’s a prayer on behalf of a group of people: “Lord, please fill us with the knowledge of your will. Our heart’s cry is to do the things you have called us to do. We ask this because we want to live lives that are pleasing to you; lives that bear good fruit in the places you have put us.
And Lord, we pray that we can keep growing in our knowledge of you. We ask that you mold us and strengthen us to the shape you want us to be, that we might become people of endurance, patience, and great joy. Amen”.