As we start this new year, God has put it on my heart to pray scripture in the coming days. There will be a slight change to my format, but I hope you will join me in raising our voices in prayer.

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 (NIV1984)

PRAY

Dear God, please help us gain wisdom and insight in how to pray for others through the gift of your word. Help us to desire to love one another and “all” just as Paul prays in this passage.

WRITE

READ 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

“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.”

• While there are several components to Paul’s prayer, what is his petition about love?
• Paul asks that we would abound in love for who?
• For one another & for all. I think we do not often ask for God to increase our love – for each other – or for all. Take time now to write down several groups, people, leaders (church, family, co-workers) for whom you can ask for an increase in love for both you and for them. Write a prayer

GROW

• Take time this week to pray for these people.

Dear Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to those whom you desire us to bless in your name. Please, may you increase our love for for one another so that we will abound in love for all. May we like Paul be an example of your love to the world as you establish our hearts in preparation for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ! In Jesus Name … AMEN!

Photo by Rosie Fraser on Unsplash