Joyful Living Devotional - Day 10
Day 10 – Praying For One Another – Part 2
Philippians 1:19(NLT) For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
One of the undergirding truths of this beautiful letter that Paul writes to the church in Philippi is the mutual love we see between Paul and the church. It is evident in the way Paul writes and in the way we know the church responded, as seen in all they continued to do for Paul and his ministry.
They are partners in the grace of God. They are partners in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. They are partners in Paul’s suffering as they face persecution and trials. They are partners in financial stewardship, as evidenced by their continued financial support. They are also partners in prayer, so emphatically that Paul counts on their prayers being answered for his release. He feels their prayers through the empowering of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who helps him in his trials. Praying for one another is an action rooted in our love for one another.
Because the Philippian church loves Paul with the love of Christ, they also partner with him in prayer. We see in his request to the church in Rome that his request for prayer is based on their love for him, not because they personally know him, but because of the love the Holy Spirit pours out in the hearts of all believers. Keep in mind that when he wrote to the Romans, he had never met them.
Romans 15:30 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.
The key to partnering with others in prayer, as Paul and the Philippians did, is loving one another by the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot become true prayer partners unless our hearts have been baptized in the love of God by His Spirit. It is not that the church has a prayer deficiency; we have a love deficiency, and that is the root of our prayer deficiency.
“When the devil sees a man or woman who really believes in prayer, who knows how to pray, and who really does pray, and, above all, when he sees a whole church on its face before God in prayer, he trembles as much as he ever did, for he knows that his day in that church or community is at an end.” - R.A. Torrey
Oh, that this were true of us! That we would be so filled with the love of God that we couldn’t help but be on our knees in intercessory prayer for one another. That we would become partners in prayer for the sake of the Gospel of Christ and the building of His kingdom! That we would pray like the early church prayed, in true, heartfelt intercession for God to change hearts and bring about His will. Acts 4:29(NIV) Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
“Lord, consider and enable” are two great words in this verse. When you pray for others, you are bringing them before God’s throne and saying, God, consider what they are going through. Consider the pressure they are under and the attacks they are facing.
In intercession, you are literally holding them up or lifting them up in God’s presence. You are saying, look at them, God, and lift them beyond their present circumstances, failures, or even sin. But you don’t stop there; you take it even further! You are asking God not just to encourage them in their struggle but also to enable them, meaning to give them the grace they need, not just to endure but to overcome.
Would you pray with your fellow saints today? Please use these prayers as an example or a springboard for your own prayer. Fill in the names of those you are praying for.
Prayer:
You could pray something like this: “God, you know that Bill is not walking with you right now, but I know that you created Bill in your image and likeness and that you are God. Father, I trust in your ultimate care and deliverance. I trust because I know that if you can create the heavens and the earth, you can create in Bill a heart to seek after you.”
Again, an example: “Father, you know Jenn inside and out, and just as you spoke through David and revealed so many years ago what would take place, I pray that you show me what I need to pray for her. Father, I don’t want to pray without your insight and your guidance, so show me and help me pray your will for her life. In Jesus’ Name.”
Acts 4:30(NIV) Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Ask God to heal, to deliver, to set free. Intercession and intercessory prayer bring those in need of God’s touch before His throne: “God, I pray that you touch and heal Susan’s heart. Lord, I pray that you heal Tom’s emotions. Lord, I ask that you intervene to heal Maggie’s body.”
Demonstrate your glory, Lord. Let all the earth declare that there is none like you. You are our God, and we are your people. We pray for your church worldwide that we would not be intimidated or shrink in fear, but that we would rise in faith. Raise up men and women who are willing to carry others before your throne.
Lord, the earth is yours, and the fullness thereof. The kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. Let the church proclaim your glory and display your beauty, just as the heavens proclaim your glory.
Let the church become a symphony of praise, and may the prayer that Jesus prayed be made manifest, making us one! Let your message be proclaimed from nation to nation. May you open the doors of those countries where Jesus' Name is not allowed to be proclaimed, and send laborers into your field. Help us be mindful of our responsibility to pray and proclaim your kingdom. So we pray, let your Kingdom come and let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray all of this in the matchless and majestic Name above all names, the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
Philippians 1:19(NLT) For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
One of the undergirding truths of this beautiful letter that Paul writes to the church in Philippi is the mutual love we see between Paul and the church. It is evident in the way Paul writes and in the way we know the church responded, as seen in all they continued to do for Paul and his ministry.
They are partners in the grace of God. They are partners in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. They are partners in Paul’s suffering as they face persecution and trials. They are partners in financial stewardship, as evidenced by their continued financial support. They are also partners in prayer, so emphatically that Paul counts on their prayers being answered for his release. He feels their prayers through the empowering of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who helps him in his trials. Praying for one another is an action rooted in our love for one another.
Because the Philippian church loves Paul with the love of Christ, they also partner with him in prayer. We see in his request to the church in Rome that his request for prayer is based on their love for him, not because they personally know him, but because of the love the Holy Spirit pours out in the hearts of all believers. Keep in mind that when he wrote to the Romans, he had never met them.
Romans 15:30 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.
The key to partnering with others in prayer, as Paul and the Philippians did, is loving one another by the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot become true prayer partners unless our hearts have been baptized in the love of God by His Spirit. It is not that the church has a prayer deficiency; we have a love deficiency, and that is the root of our prayer deficiency.
“When the devil sees a man or woman who really believes in prayer, who knows how to pray, and who really does pray, and, above all, when he sees a whole church on its face before God in prayer, he trembles as much as he ever did, for he knows that his day in that church or community is at an end.” - R.A. Torrey
Oh, that this were true of us! That we would be so filled with the love of God that we couldn’t help but be on our knees in intercessory prayer for one another. That we would become partners in prayer for the sake of the Gospel of Christ and the building of His kingdom! That we would pray like the early church prayed, in true, heartfelt intercession for God to change hearts and bring about His will. Acts 4:29(NIV) Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
“Lord, consider and enable” are two great words in this verse. When you pray for others, you are bringing them before God’s throne and saying, God, consider what they are going through. Consider the pressure they are under and the attacks they are facing.
In intercession, you are literally holding them up or lifting them up in God’s presence. You are saying, look at them, God, and lift them beyond their present circumstances, failures, or even sin. But you don’t stop there; you take it even further! You are asking God not just to encourage them in their struggle but also to enable them, meaning to give them the grace they need, not just to endure but to overcome.
Would you pray with your fellow saints today? Please use these prayers as an example or a springboard for your own prayer. Fill in the names of those you are praying for.
Prayer:
- When you are praying for someone and things don’t look good. Pray this way, “Lord, remind me that you are working even when I can’t see it. Remind me that you have had a plan long before I ever thought of praying. I pray for Jim and know he is never out of your hand, and he is never out of your care. I will not be moved by what I see, hear, or feel. I know your plan is better, bigger, and wiser than mine, so I stand in the gap for Jim and trust your plan for him.”
- When you are praying for someone, especially when their lives are not in line with God’s purpose, remind yourself through prayer that God has created them, that they are part of God’s creation and therefore under God’s ultimate authority. Acts 4:24(NIV) When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
You could pray something like this: “God, you know that Bill is not walking with you right now, but I know that you created Bill in your image and likeness and that you are God. Father, I trust in your ultimate care and deliverance. I trust because I know that if you can create the heavens and the earth, you can create in Bill a heart to seek after you.”
- When you pray, ask God to reveal what you specifically need to pray for. You might know because you know the person well that you are praying for. But sometimes we assume, and we need to allow God to show us what we need to pray for.
Again, an example: “Father, you know Jenn inside and out, and just as you spoke through David and revealed so many years ago what would take place, I pray that you show me what I need to pray for her. Father, I don’t want to pray without your insight and your guidance, so show me and help me pray your will for her life. In Jesus’ Name.”
- One more way we need to pray is for God’s power to be made manifest in their lives. The disciples prayed not only for boldness to speak but also for God to validate their words through His miraculous intervention. Now, I know there are people who think that God no longer heals and that miracles are no longer possible. I will respectfully and lovingly disagree. More than ever, we need God’s supernatural intervention. I am not going to attempt to validate God’s supernatural works; all I know is that the disciples prayed for God to heal. They prayed that God would demonstrate His power through signs and wonders and heal in the Name of Jesus.
Acts 4:30(NIV) Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Ask God to heal, to deliver, to set free. Intercession and intercessory prayer bring those in need of God’s touch before His throne: “God, I pray that you touch and heal Susan’s heart. Lord, I pray that you heal Tom’s emotions. Lord, I ask that you intervene to heal Maggie’s body.”
Demonstrate your glory, Lord. Let all the earth declare that there is none like you. You are our God, and we are your people. We pray for your church worldwide that we would not be intimidated or shrink in fear, but that we would rise in faith. Raise up men and women who are willing to carry others before your throne.
Lord, the earth is yours, and the fullness thereof. The kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. Let the church proclaim your glory and display your beauty, just as the heavens proclaim your glory.
Let the church become a symphony of praise, and may the prayer that Jesus prayed be made manifest, making us one! Let your message be proclaimed from nation to nation. May you open the doors of those countries where Jesus' Name is not allowed to be proclaimed, and send laborers into your field. Help us be mindful of our responsibility to pray and proclaim your kingdom. So we pray, let your Kingdom come and let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray all of this in the matchless and majestic Name above all names, the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
Posted in Joyful Living Devotional