Chapter 5
5 Paul at Prayer.........................................................................
And this I pray, that your love may abound
yet more and more in knowledge and in all
judgment.
—Philippians 1:9
Many times when praying for Christians we say, "God bless
Sister So-and-so" and "God bless Brother So-and-so," yet we
don't find where Paul ever prayed that way. That kind of praying
really doesn't do much good; it only salves our conscience and
makes us feel we've prayed.
Paul was specific when he said, "I pray, that your love may
abound more and more." That's a good way to pray for
Christians, isn't it? Paul is praying for believers.
Notice Colossians 1:9:
COLOSSIANS 1:9
9 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.
This is Paul's prayer for the Church at Colosse. If you are
filled with the knowledge of His Will, then you're going to know
what all these blessings are with which the Father has blessed
you.
In Ephesians 1:3, Paul prayed:
EPHESIANS 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings
in heavenly places in Christ.
That means He already has provided everything we need—
all the blessings we will ever need. They are all wrapped up in
Jesus.