These are the things to never stop praying for people

If you look at the example of the apostle Paul, who describes his own prayer life, and think about what his words ACTUALLY MEAN (for there is a lot in them), you will get a very good idea of how to pray for people, especially other Christians.

There is more emphasis in the New Testament on praying for the will of God to be done in believers’ life, than there is on praying for unsaved people to come to a knowledge of the truth. The fact is, that if we are doing the will of God, we will also be praying for “all men” (1 Timothy 2:1-4) concerning whom God has clearly stated that he wants them to come to a knowledge of the truth. But for us to pray as we ought, first we need to be more fully conformed to the image of Christ and the will of God. So here is what Paul prayed for and what you and I should pray for “without ceasing”

We should pray for believers that:

They be filled with the knowledge of His will (Colossians 1:9)

in all spiritual wisdom and understanding  (vs9)

that we may walk worthy of the Lord (vs 10)

that we may be fully pleasing to Him

that we be fruitful in every good work

that we be increasing in the knowledge of God (vs 10)

that we be strengthened with all might – according to His glorious power (vs 11)

that this happen “for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (vs 11)

that we be giving thanks to God the Father (Colossians 1:12)

that we be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the Father (Ephesians 1:17)

that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened (vs 18)

that we may know the hope of His calling (vs 18)

that we may know what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints

that we may know what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believed (vs 19)

that this power is comparable to the power that raised Christ from the dead and exalted Him to the throne from where He reigns far above all demonic powers (vs 20-21)

that God who began a good work in us believers will complete it until the Day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6)

that our love may abound more and more in all discernment (1:9)

that we may approve the things that are excellent

that we may be sincere

that we may be without offense til the Day of Christ

that we may be filled with the fruits of righteousness (which are by Jesus Christ)

that all this may be to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11)

that the Lord make us increase and abound in love one to another and to all

that we may be established blameless  in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.(1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

that our God would count you worthy of this calling

that God would fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness

that God would fulfil the work of faith with power in our lives

that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us, and us in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11,12)

that we, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16)

that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17)

that we may be rooted and grounded in love (3:17)

that we may comprehend the greatness of God’s love (vs 18)

that we may know the love of Christ which passes knowledge (vs 19)

that we may be filled up to all the fulness of God. (vs 19)

It is not a matter of simply rattling off these words. We need to prayerfully reflect and ponder their meaning, so that our heart and mind fully enters into these prayers. We need to try to know what we are talking about when we talk with our God. Then our heart can enter into it, and amazing things will happen.

Can you even imagine what it would look like if all these prayers were truly answered for you, for me, for the people we know and love? What kind of awesome revelation of Jesus Christ would be known to people! This is what we need to go for in prayer – with thanksgiving, and without ceasing.

So do it. And feel free to ask me if I am doing it.