Priorities from Paul and His Prayers - Part 1

Prayer can often be very difficult for me. The trouble is not necessarily in finding the time to pray, but it is knowing the motives and goals of our prayers. What shall I pray for? More pointedly, why should I pray? I deeply desire to pray as God would have me pray, cultivating a heart by his grace that longs after what he longs, that desires what he desires. Nevertheless, most probably from my hard heart, I have spent many mornings on my knees...in heart-wrenching silence. Words dripping out of my mouth slowly, like water from an icicle on a cold, January day.

And I fear I am not alone in these barren times of prayer. Undoubtedly many of you have felt similarly, either not knowing what to pray or simply not having a desire to bow before the Almighty God.

In light of our need, I recently returned to a book written by D.A. Carson, entitled A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and his Prayers. It thoroughly examines each of the more substantial prayers from Paul in his epistles, analyzes the main foci of Paul. I was so utterly touched and encouraged by this book, I warmly passed it on to a friend who frequents Old Chicago regularly. After a week or so, she had finished reading it and promptly returned it. That day we shared our reflections on the book. We were both so encouraged. But we both had short memories. It was hard to remember all that we had read, to keep in mind the main priorities Paul had in his prayers. We needed a summary. So, the following posts will be brief summaries I have compiled that will hopefully reveal what things we ought to pray for. May you be encouraged and provoked to prayer.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 – The Framework of Prayer
3We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
5All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

11With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

I.) Thankfulness for Signs of Grace
1.) Paul gives thanks that his readers’ faith is growing (v.3)
2.) Paul gives thanks that their love is increasing (v.3)
3.) Paul gives thanks that they are persevering under trial (v.4)

II.) Confidence in the Prospect of Vindication\Looking Forward to the Hope that will be Revealed at Christ’s Return
1.) For believers, there will be vindication (vv. 6,10)
“God is just: He will…give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well… on the day he comes to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you”
2.) For others, there will be retribution (v.10)
“God is just:…He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.