"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers..."
{1 Thessalonians 1:2}
I always knew God reveals His heart for us in the Bible - in so many ways it is like a very personal letter He has written to us, longing for us to reach out and accept everything that He has given us. But I often struggle to just reach out and make His promises personal to my life. Then recently I really started paying attention to the prayers in the New Testament, the epistles of Paul especially. And there it is! If you ever wonder what God wants for you in your spiritual life, read these verses:
"Wherefore I also..cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 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 you 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 power..."
{Ephesians 1:15-19}
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement; that you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
{Phillipians 1:9-11}
"For this cause we also...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 you 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."
{Colossians 1:9-11}
And 2 Thessalonians 1 has another beautiful prayer. I love these! This is the inspired word of God, being prayed for believers by God's servant. This is God's heart for us! And these are prayers we can pray for our husband, our children, our friends. These prayers are not the ordinary "bless him, prosper them, be with them, comfort her" prayers. Paul is asking God to reveal Himself, His wisdom, His knowledge, His Power and His glory in and through His believers. These prayers - they're powerful.
