Who’s praying for you? (And what are they praying for?)
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” (Philippians 1:9)
“I’ll pray for you.”
How many times haven’t you heard that response from people when they hear about a circumstance or situation in someone’s life? It is encouraging to know and hear that someone else is storming the gates of heaven on your behalf. But have you ever stopped to think about how many people might be praying for you and you don’t even know it?
In this verse from his “epistle of joy,” the Apostle Paul tells the Christians in the ancient city of Philippi that he is praying for them. He also tells them what he is praying for them.
Our verse for this week is actually the third thing which Paul tells the Philippians he is praying for them. Before he gets to our verse Paul has offered a prayer of thanks for the Philippians and also asked that God keep them strong in their faith until Judgment Day.
And then there is one more big thing which Paul includes in his prayer for the Philippians which is our verse for this week “that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” Paul’s last prayer in this section of Philippians is that the Philippians would both grow in their faith and that they also might live and show their faith in their daily lives. If you think about it, that is a fantastic prayer!
How often aren’t our troubles multiplied or intensified because we have doubts or worries about how things are going to turn out? Think of the response of the man who came to Jesus on behalf of his son who had been having seizes since childhood. When the man approached Jesus and Jesus helped the man see his doubts and fears, the man cried out “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24b)
If you are a Christian parent, it has likely been your prayer for your child(ren) that God would strengthen their faith through the difficult stages of their life. Might that be a prayer which you could offer for your spouse or a friend as you see what they are going through? Each one of us could certainly also ask God that he strengthen our own faith as well as we know all too well the doubts, fears and worries which we have wrestled with.
There are many things which we can talk to God about in our prayers. I pray that this prayer of the Apostle Paul helps teach you some things to pray for and also encourages you in your prayer life!
Let us Pray. Heavenly Father – thank you for the privilege which you have given us to talk to you in prayer. Teach and lead us to regularly make use of this precious blessing to thank and ask you for whatever is on our heart or in our lives. We are confident that you will hear and answer each one of our prayers in the way that you know is best because of your gracious promise to us. As always, we pray to you in Jesus’ name. Amen.