In writing to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul told them how he had been praying for them. Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints (1 Thessalonians 3.10-12). In this, Paul provided us with an example of how to pray. As he began by acknowledging God as their Father, may we ever remember we are able to come to Him as our Father, not because of who we are, but because of who He is; because He has adopted us as His own, rooted in His love and grace, through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.
In submission to our Lord, may we pray for our Lord to direct our way, to be fully committed to follow Him in all things. In this, we recognize we are not an isolated island, but are part of the body of believers. Therefore, our praying should include others, to love one another, and to grow in that love; to see other believers as we are – children of God, adopted by Him. Continuing in Paul’s example, we look ahead and pray that the Lord will establish our hearts, that He will have full control of our lives so they will be blameless in holiness, pure, and free from all sin. In this we pray to seek holiness, being holy as He is holy (1 Peter 2.15-16), resisting all sin and evil temptations. Being established in purity, we pray to be fully grounded, to have a solid foundation in Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word, not moved by our desires or those of the world and the allurements of sin. In praying for holiness, we recognize Jesus is coming again. Therefore, may we pray for an earnest desire to be pure His coming, to honor Him in all things, at all times, with the fulness of our heart and in all desires, being unashamed when we see Jesus (1 John 2.28).
Having the privilege to pray – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry
My Morning Desk 