{"id":4005,"date":"2017-08-11T12:28:58","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T16:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/?p=4005"},"modified":"2017-08-11T12:28:58","modified_gmt":"2017-08-11T16:28:58","slug":"praying-with-paul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2017\/08\/praying-with-paul.html","title":{"rendered":"Praying With Paul"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sunset-girl-worship-field-prayer-nature-sun\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We often complicate prayer so much that we avoid praying altogether. Sometimes we need a reminder to keep it plain and keep it simple. There are beautiful prayers in the Bible that we can borrow when\u00a0we need some coaching in our intercession for our loved ones. <\/span><\/p>\n

Paul who wrote thirteen books in the New Testament incorporated some of his prayers right into his letters. <\/span>We like to borrow them frequently when praying for our loved ones. Join us today as we pray Paul\u2019s prayer for the Philippians church. <\/span><\/p>\n

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy\u2026<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul began his prayers with thanksgiving. No matter what you are going through today, thanksgiving opens the door for miracles, and it sets our hearts aright in faith. Complaining gets us no where (as the Israelites demonstrated for us in the desert), whereas thanksgiving is the gateway into the presence of God, the place where our desires are aligned with His and our desires become realities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start by speaking out your thanks to God for the people you are interceding for today, even for the challenging ones, for they are producing greater capacity for grace in your life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank You, Lord, for the people you have given me to walk with through this life. Thank You for their impact and that I am a better person because of them. Thank You for the challenge they bring me as they spur me on to follow You with more diligence. Thank You for the source of encouragement they are to my soul. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

As we release our cares and our dear ones into the hands of God, we can rest assured that He will not stop until He has finished His work in their hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Father, thank You that You are the author and finisher of our stories. Jesus finished the work on the cross; now all we need do is receive from His\u00a0bounty. I lift up my dear ones to You and trust You to work on their behalf.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ\u2014to the glory and praise of God.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s ultimate prayer for his loved ones was that they would learn to grow in their capacity to love. The fruit of functioning in ever-increasing love would be rich: discerning God\u2019s will, maintaining strong integrity, and ultimately being a person that brings God true praise \u2013 not just a song now and then, but a heart that is true to His. <\/span><\/p>\n

Father, I pray not only for my loved ones but for\u00a0myself as well. May my ability to walk in love grow more and more every day. Today help us to take the necessary steps to become people who love well! I long to hear Your voice and understand the direction You are calling me to take, and I desire to be the kind of person You can be proud to call Your child.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

In Jesus\u2019 Name,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Borrow Paul\u2019s prayers daily! They are rich words and will not return empty!<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo credit:\u00a0Foter.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We often complicate prayer so much that we avoid praying altogether. Sometimes we need a reminder to keep it plain and keep it simple. There are beautiful prayers in the Bible that we can borrow when\u00a0we need some coaching in our intercession for our loved ones. 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