Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith…. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3:10,12-13)
“Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus’ disciples once said that to him (see Luke 11). In response, Jesus taught them the Lord’s Prayer. Have you ever wondered what to pray for? Prayer seems like an easy thing. Just say anything you want to God! But what? Of all that you could ask for, what should you pray about?
The Bible is filled with prayers by God’s people, and each prayer provides a model for our prayers today. Like Paul’s short prayer here for the Christians in Thessalonica. Notice, first and foremost, that his focus is on spiritual things. While it’s certainly proper for us to pray for all the physical needs we have every single day, prayers in the Bible remind us that what’s most important is “what is lacking in your faith.”
As you hear Paul’s prayer for Christians long ago, consider whether it might be good for you to pray for similar things. “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else.” Huh. I don’t know if I have ever prayed that my love for other people would increase. Wouldn’t that be a great prayer? “Jesus, as you have loved me, let me love others. As I grow in understanding your grace and trusting in you, let my grace for others increase and overflow.” What a good prayer!
There’s more: “May he strengthen your heart.” I don’t think Paul’s talking about lowering cholesterol or opening up heart valves. He’s praying for faith in the face of temptation and persecution, so that those Christians could remain faithful to Jesus until he comes again on Judgment Day. Wouldn’t that be a great prayer? “Jesus, strengthen my heart, no matter what I face, so that I always believe in you, so that I may be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when you come with all your holy ones.”
Let’s try it. Let’s pray!
Dear Lord, may my love increase and overflow for other people, just as your love overflows for me. Strengthen my heart to face the trials of today, and keep me faithful to you until you come again. Amen.
Upside-Down Savior 