A Good Guide to Pray for People like Philemon
[4] I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, [5] because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, [6] and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. [7] For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Philemon 4–7
If you ever didn’t know how to pray, or what to pray for somebody, just look at the letters of Paul. This is from Philemon, and it is a great way to pray for people.
Thanksgiving
Thank God for the person that you are praying for. Thank God for what He has done in their lives and a few particularly praiseworthy characteristics they have. Remember things about them that have glorified God in the past. It doesn’t matter if you saw it, or heard of it from others, give thanks for these things.
Effectiveness
Pray that whatever things you thanked God for would be fruitful. Pray that they would help everyone they talk to toward faith in Christ. Pray that these characteristics would guide the person to a full knowledge of who they are in Christ.
Multiplication
Praise God for the joy you have received from this person, and pray that many more of God’s people would experience that joy. Pray that God would use this person and these things to refresh the church and to encourage unbelievers to come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Benefit of a Pattern
It may sound silly to pray in a pattern like this, but in times of dryness, sickness, weakness, etc. it is really good to have a pattern that you can lean on. There is a lot of sickness going around right now (hence no Bible reading yesterday!) but if you are sick in bed, grab this guide and go through it with some people from church. Go through it with people at work and in your neighborhood. You’ll end the day accomplishing more for the Kingdom of Heaven than you would have suspected.
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