“I am praying for you.” Do you ever say that? We stand in the shelter of each other’s prayers. But what exactly should we ask? Often we center our prayers in some tangible need. We pray for physical healing or financial provision. Would you believe me if I told you our greatest needs are not primarily physical, or material, but spiritual? After all these years, I am still learning to pray.
When Paul prayed for the Philippians, he recognized who they were. He addressed the letter to God’s holy people in Christ at Philippi. They were located in the geographic location of the ancient city of Philippi. But geographic locations change when we move around. Wherever they were on earth, these believers were always “in Christ.” This is our true location, too.
When Paul prayed for the Philippians, he prayed for their love to grow. He asked for their love to grow in knowledge so that they would be able to discern and do what was best. This is always a good prayer for us to pray. Think of those whom you love. Hold them before the Father and pray that he would cause them to grow in love and knowledge. Pray that they will be able to discern what is best so that they might be pure and blameless. Pray that they will be filled with the fruit of righteousness. Pray that they will bring glory to God.
When we pray scriptural prayers over our family and friends, we know we are asking what God wants for them. I don’t know if God wants everyone in my family to be wealthy. But I do know he wants to fill every one of them with spiritual riches in Christ. As we pray this prayer for others, we may also begin to live it out. Our love for Christ and his church begins to grow. We come to know who we are and what God wants for our lives. This knowledge leads us to live differently as we seek to give God greater glory. If you cannot think of anybody who needs you to pray this prayer for them, please pray it for me.
