Currently my prayers for others include healing from illness, avoidance of surgery, a smooth path ahead into a new life-phase, and guidance for an important decision.
Good things for good people.
But not long ago I had occasion to peruse Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonian church. Four times in three short chapters, Paul expressed his prayers for these Christians facing persecution and trials (2 Thessalonians 1:4).
His prayers surprised me.
Did he include protection from their enemies? No. Rescue from persecution? No. Lives of peace so they could share about Christ without threat? No.
Instead, Paul asked for God’s empowerment, encouragement, strength, understanding of God’s love, endurance, and inner peace.
Why were these qualities uppermost in his mind?
First, GOD’S EMPOWERMENT would help them live true to their faith (1:11 CEV), so they might honor God and God might honor them (v. 12).
And what might that honor look like? Shalom—which includes inner tranquility, divine wholeness, prosperity of soul, and more (1)—even during trials.
We too can ask God to empower those we pray for, that they might honor him, experience his shalom, and anticipate the supreme honor of hearing him declare, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (2).
We’d do well to pray the same for ourselves.
Second, GOD’S ENCOURAGEMENT AND STRENGTH would lead the Thessalonians to always do and say what is good (2 Thessalonians 2:17 GNT).
In the previous verse, Paul reminded these readers of God’s love and grace to them.
Perhaps he wanted to stir up memories of God’s goodness on display in the past, and once inspired, they’d be fueled to show goodness to one another within their church—to keep one another lifted up.
And that integrity would draw those outside the church to Jesus (3).
Third, GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S LOVE AND ENDURANCE, provided through Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5 GNT), would cause their confidence in him to grow.
Then, when challenges arose, the Thessalonian church would remain steadfast and unflinching in the face of persecution.
Down through the centuries Christians have suffered for their faith. Even now in Asia and Africa, Christ-followers bear up under imprisonment and torture.
Meriam Ibrahim was just such a prisoner, sentenced to death for refusing to become a Muslim. Her second child was born while Meriam was behind bars.
Finally her captors threatened to torture her with one hundred lashes followed by hanging, but Meriam later stated she never even considered acquiescing to her captors.
An international campaign for her release saved Meriam’s life. She now lives in the U.S (4).
Though we and our loved ones may never face such circumstances, we’re wise to prepare ourselves, and pray for endurance to stay the course—for all of us.
And last, PEACE—Shalom—from the Lord of Peace himself (3:16 HCSB).
Here shalom is not just alluded to; Paul prays for it specifically, that the Thessalonians might enjoy “at all times and in every way” this most sublime blessing.
No doubt, Meriam experienced such inner tranquility and deep, settled confidence. It can be ours also, as we stand on the strong foundation of:
- God’s promises. He is a refuge, a stronghold, who never forsakes those who seek him (5).
- God’s sovereignty and perfections. With flawless wisdom he always acts rightly (6).
- God’s power. Sometimes he rescues, as he did in Meriam’s case. Other times, in his wisdom of all things, he deems it best not to. It’s then we see his miraculous power to carry his followers through, as he has thousands of martyrs who’ve gone to their deaths praying and singing.
So what about our prayers for good outcomes and guidance? Are they improper somehow? Not at all. In another letter, Paul told us to pray about everything.
So I’ll continue to pray for D. to be healed, for N. not to require surgery, for C.’s path ahead to be made clear, and A., as she and her family look to God for guidance.
But I’ll also add God’s empowerment to persevere, his encouragement and strength to live with integrity in spite of challenges, to experience God’s love in palpable ways, and to rest in his shalom.
California landscape by Thomas Hill (1829-1908)
Notes:
- Isaiah 32:17
- Matthew 25:21
- Matthew 5:14-16
- (https://www.eauk.org/idea/five-famous-christians-who-went-to-prison.cfm )
- Psalm 9:9-10
- Psalm 145:17
Image credits: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net (5); http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.picryl.com.
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Thank you, Mitch!
Thanks, Nancy, for sharing Biblical insights that can be used to enhance our prayers. I’m familiar with the scriptures you’ve cited, but I haven’t conscientiously, or habitually, utilized Paul’s prayer approach. But now that you’ve pointed them out…! 🙂
It’s going to be a new habit for me too, Nancy, although I often do pray for strength for people enduring difficult circumstances. But to be more intentional, I wrote out on a 3 x 5 a segment of the last paragraph, to keep with my prayer cards. Now I’ll be prepared to add these important elements as I pray.
Good idea! 😁
Thank you Nancy for this great reminder through Paul’s prayer. I am definitely going to add these in my prayers.
You’re welcome, Manu. What a privilege it’ll be for us to contribute to the perseverance, strength, experience of God’s love, and shalom in the lives of others, as God answers our prayers!
Beautiful post about the power of prayer, Nancy! To remember to pray for everything – and the endurance to stay the course. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Wynne. Praise God for his inspiration, for pointing out to me these prayers of Paul!
What a powerful message on prayer! I fall short.
I do too, Linda. We’ll press on together!
Thank you for sharing my friend. Jesus tells us that trials and tribulations are a necessary part of our growth. He reminds us though, that He prays for us. Thank you for sharing, my friend, I needed that today. God bless you
You’re welcome, Brenda. And you’re so right: trials and tribulations are a necessary part of our growth. We’d become spoiled and self-absorbed without them, never developing into full maturity. / I’m so glad you added that statement about Christ himself interceding for us. Isn’t it a mind-boggling reality (Romans 8:34)?!
Your post here, Nancy, gives Paul’s admonition to pray without ceasing an entirely new meaning. God listens, God hears, God knows what is best for each of us. It is the praying that counts. We must trust and obey, just as Meriam demonstrated in her willingness to die for the Gospel. She sets a bar so high that I feel I could never reach, yet she is the inspiration to continue to try. Blessings!
Meriam does set the bar high. But I am confident that should we suffer such persecution for our faith, God will provide the wherewithal for us to endure as well (Colossians 1:9-11)!
Thank you for this message. I needed to read this today. God bless you.
I’m so glad this post was meaningful to you, Melissa. Praise God for his inspiration!
Thanks for this reminder. Today, pray with me for my daughter Amy as she undergoes another biopsy. I know the power of prayer. I’ve been witness to it throughout my life.
Almighty God, we come to you asking first for your healing upon Amy. May this biopsy turn up nothing of concern, and may a wise course of action follow so she’s once again serving you unhindered by any physical ailment. We also pray that, as the family awaits results, each one would feel wrapped in your love and shalom. In the power of Jesus name, Amen!
Nancy– I like this piece on prayer—comparing and contrasting your prayers for others with Paul’s prayers. And then deciding to add onto your prayers the elements of Paul’s prayers– for God’s empowerment, encouragement, strength, understanding of God’s love, endurance, and inner peace.
I also like how you explain each of these elements. Very good! Thank you so much Nancy!!
You’re welcome, Katie. I praise God for his inspiration, and that you found this post meaningful!
Beautiful post on the power of prayer! God offers His peace to us at all times, and in all places. The world clamors for our attention, like a kite in the wind. But ultimately, it is God who holds the kite string. The winds of life are fierce, and we do need great endurance. Lucky for us, we know that our Heavenly Father holds tight to the kite string of life and ever so tightly to each one of His beloved children. Thank you for this post!
What delightful imagery, Linda, especially with kite weather just around the corner. I think I see one of your poems in between the comments you wrote above!
Nancy, this is powerful. To pray for God’s strength, shalom, His perseverance in and through us, and His perspective in all things is what we need every day. It’s the preaching of the gospel to ourselves each day–He is sovereign and good, even if our circumstances don’t seem to echo those truths. His truth is more real than our emotions or our circumstances. Thank you so much for this. It’s a great reminder of what I really need–Him in all His awe and wonder, in all His strength and protection, Him in all His goodness and grace.
Insightful and encouraging truths you shared, Dayle! Thank you for adding your wisdom to the conversation. We WOULD find ourselves in a better frame of mind if we preach the gospel to ourselves each day–ALL the good news about God and how he positively impacts our lives. He keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in him (Isaiah 26:3)! What better way to remain steadfast than what you suggest? Thank you again!