Colin S. Smith's Blog, page 2

God Speaks Through His Word

Your conviction about Scripture will shape your life and drive your ministry. Join Pastor Colin in this teaching session to learn how Scripture came, what Scripture is, and what Scripture does. This session will bolster your confidence in the Bible as the Word of God and its utmost importance in ministering others.

 



This session is part of the free Watch Your Doctrine course. Learn more about our Open the Bible for Leaders courses designed to equip you for fruitful service to Christ.

Five Common Hindrances to Bible Reading

What often keeps us from engaging with Scripture? See how many of these five hindrances apply to you.
1. Distraction
We are living in an age of unparalleled opportunities and unrelenting stimulation, when the influence of technology has greatly affected our desire and ability to receive God’s word. The digital hubbub has rewired our brains, making us obsessed with noise and newness, addicted to instant gratification, and unable to focus, all of which can make hearing and reading God’s word—a practice that is helped by concentration, commitment, and quiet—difficult.

You know the scenario. You’re thinking about a Bible passage or a recent sermon, only to find your thoughts wandering about that work project you have to finish or that recent debate you heard online (which causes you to check your phone again). Hello, distraction.








How have you seen technology’s influence become dangerous to your walk with God? How have you seen the enemy use it to keep you from God and his life-giving word (Mark 4:15)? Distraction is one pervasive hindrance we’ll want to be aware of as we seek to grow.
2. Dullness
Technological and cultural advances have lavished us with an abundance of Bible resources. These are gifts from God that can stir our hunger for him. But sometimes they have the opposite effect: we take them for granted and become bored with what feels over-familiar. As pastor and author J. C. Ryle says, “We hardly know the value of the air we breathe, and the sun which shines on us, because we have never known what it is to be without them.” Dullness of heart can especially affect those who have become well-acquainted with the Bible, like pastors, seminary students, and Bible teachers. I’m talking about myself here.

What might this look like? Perhaps it becomes easy for us to approach our Bibles as a mere duty rather than as communion with the living God (John 5:39–40). Dullness may cause us to forget that we don’t actually deserve to hear from God at all, and it might tempt us to look for extrabiblical revelation, as if hearing from God directly through Scripture isn’t enough for us. We need to be on guard for hearts that have become dull to the word of life.
3. Deceit
Our hearts can also be deceived into believing lies about God and his word. This is one of Satan’s greatest tactics as the father of lies (John 8:44). Even for believers in Jesus whose hearts have been set free by his truth (John 8:32), the temptation toward deceit is real.








That said, we can ask God to make us aware of untrue thoughts that distract us from God’s word and dull our hearts to his beauty, authority, and power. What might these lies sound like? Rather than believe that God is loving us well through his words, we suspect the Bible contains only rules and restraints that limit and condemn us. Rather than trust what God says, distrusting our own fallen wisdom in favor of his perfection, we question and doubt him. Rather than hunger for eternal realities and love what God loves, we are deceived into settling for worldly values and ideals, thinking they will make us happy.

We are at war. The Christian life is a great battle for the heart as we put off deceit and let the truth set us free from it—which is why we need the word.
4. Discouragement
What has made it hard for you to endure, or what has sent you into seasons of spiritual dryness? Maybe you haven’t opened your Bible for months because your newborn has kept you up all night for equally as long. Maybe your aging parents need you constantly, draining your tank of whatever might have been left for the Lord. Or maybe Bible reading feels more like a chore to complete than a blessing to enjoy.

Perhaps you’re in the midst of a kind of suffering you never saw coming: illness, chronic pain, depression, grief, and other trials that make it hard to get out of bed in the morning, let alone invest energy in God’s word. Our pain fills our heads, weighs on our hearts, and tempts us toward discouragement and apathy.








Jesus also notes persecution “on account of the word” (Mark 4:17). When we choose to follow him, there are uncomfortable costs (Mark 8:38), whether we are sacrificing our reputations or finding our very lives in danger. People of the world will think we are crazy for being people of the book.

We will be discouraged from walking with God in this fallen world. The question is, Will we allow these discouragements to drive us to his word or away from it?
5. Desires
We don’t always want what’s good for us (vegetables and exercise, anyone?). Wrong desires can also hinder us from hungering for God’s word—and not only that, they can kill us slowly as our hearts shrivel under their influence. If we are outrightly living in sinful practices (1 John 2:16), there will be no room in our hearts for God and his word (James 4:4).

But what about those of us who desire to love and please God, but don’t always want what’s good for our souls? We no longer live in sinful practices, but we still war against sin’s presence and wrong desires (Rom. 7:21–25). This fight can affect our hunger for the word.

Sometimes good things can replace God, as they take priority over him and become the pattern for our days. What “good-desires-turned-idols” have hindered you from enjoying God in his word? That extra hour of sleep that becomes a habit, leaving no time to read the Bible? The desire to make more money, which leads to working more hours, which leaves you too exhausted for anything else? The ease of regularly opening Netflix or social media, rather than seeking a better rest in the words of life?








This isn’t to say that extra sleep, working hard, and entertainment are necessarily wrong (although they could be). But we want closeness with God to be the priority and pattern of our days, rather than the cares of the world and the desires of our flesh.

 



 

This is an excerpt of Help for the Hungry Soul: Eight Encouragements to Grow Your Appetite for God's Word by Kristen Wetherell.

Ten Ideas for Cultivating Small Group Prayer

If you're looking for a Bible verse about group prayer, James 5:16 isn't a bad choice:  

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

By God's grace, praying with and for one another is powerful. I've experienced this in countless ways in the men's group I lead. I often arrive at our group struggling in faith, motivation, or a particular life challenge, and leave with confidence in God and my burdens lifted. I wouldn't trade our weekly prayer time for anything.

And yet I know such a time of prayer isn't a guarantee. It might feel awkward or forced. You might fail to gain momentum if people don't speak up or if their prayers are too short or superficial. You might be so into your conversation that you run out of time to pray. Or maybe some in the group use prayer request time as a personal soapbox to overshare about every detail of their life. 

I hope the following ideas will help you foster small group prayer that brings God glory, blesses His people, and remains engaging to the group.
Ten Ideas for Cultivating Small Group Prayer
1. Begin your small group with prayer so you don't run out of time at the end.
I often do this in our early morning men's group since a couple men leave early for work.
2. Share a structure for people to follow.

It could be the 3-Rs (Rejoice, Repent, Request) for responding to a Scripture or truth, the similar ACTS pattern (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, or Supplication), or a custom template for your group.

3. Have two prayer times: one at the beginning and another at the end.

A benefit of this approach is that each prayer session can have a different purpose, and thus reminds group members that prayer is more than asking God for things, it is also worship, confession, and giving thanks.

When my group has two prayer sessions, we often focus on each other's needs at the beginning and then spend the closing session asking for God's help in applying the Scripture we studied.

4. Pray a Scripture passage together.

Focusing on a Scripture keeps prayer from being a laundry list of requests and reminds us that prayer at its simplest, is responding to what God has said to us in His Word. You might focus on a Psalm or even read and pray through an entire epistle like Philippians, Colossians, or Ephesians.

Learn more about the why and how of praying the Bible in the free Pray the Bible course—a course designed for small group use.

5. Plan entire meetings dedicated to prayer.

You may do this randomly or on a monthly or quarterly basis. I recommend coming with a focus for your time, a set of texts from Scripture or relevant topics. Consider having printouts with a list of prayer requests to help guide your group. You could break your time into several different chunks and read Scripture or sing in between.

6. If your group is large, split into smaller groups.

It is small group prayer after all. If your group has twenty minutes allotted for prayer but ten people, that means that either not everyone can pray, or everyone can pray but just for a short period of time. When large groups are split, more people can pray for more time. And it's a good thing when God's people pray.

This idea can also work with encouraging group members to intercede for each other during the week. Instead of having each member pray for every person (which can get overwhelming), assign them one or two others to lift up in prayer. Smaller groups could even meet outside of small group for additional prayer.

7. Use Popcorn Prayer Prompts.

"In one or two sentences, thank God for ___________." A simple prompt like that can spark a fruitful time of prayer in a way that invites those not always comfortable praying in front of others.

8. Rotate special topics for prayer times.

In my men's small group, we will often focus extra prayer attention in a few directions: growth in godliness, the confession of sins, our wives, our families, our work, evangelism, the church and church leaders, our local community, world leaders and events, missionaries, and our enemies to name a few.

Rotating topics allows us to go deeper in one area instead of being tempted to neglect a topic or pray shallower prayers. You can't pray for everything you need to pray for in every meeting!

9. Allow time for individual prayer.

Occasionally mixing in time for individual prayer can help those uncomfortable praying in front of others and allow the group to respond more personally to the topic or passage.

10. Learn how to limit and focus prayer requests.

The temptation with the question, "Does anyone have a prayer request?" is to give everyone in the group as much time as they want to share, eating all of the time for actual prayer.

Find a way to limit how long sharing prayer requests can take.

One option to consider is gathering prayer requests before the group meets via text or email. This also allows the leader to show deeper one-on-one care and attention for group members who need it.
Ask a question like "What are two things we can pray for you about?" or "In a minute or less, how can we pray for you?"
If time is short, you can pause the sharing time and let people know they can add additional requests by praying for them during their turn.

These ideas work best for more routine prayer requests. More important requests need time to unpack and sensitivity in the response. When a particularly challenging or painful prayer need comes up, praying as a group with hands on the affected member is a great way to bring their request before the Lord and collectively bear a burden (Galatians 6:2).
The Church: A Greenhouse for Prayer
Like a greenhouse, the church provides us the ideal environment for prayer to flourish[1]. A community of people dedicated to God's Word and filled with His Spirit will offer God prayers that honor Him and work in the world. 

Let's take the privilege of prayer seriously!

 —

[1] John Onwuchekwa used this illustration in his book Prayer.

Bible Q&A: Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?

Question: Have I committed the unforgivable sin?

Answer: Hi, this is Pastor Tim from Open the Bible. Pastor Colin asked me to thank you for your good question and respond to you.

I want you to know that we’ve received this question a number of times over the years. It's clearly something that many people, including Christians, struggle with.

I’m going to assume that the reason you’re asking this question is because of Jesus’ words: “I tell you the truth. All sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:28-29).

Notice, there is a positive and a negative in what Jesus says. First, the positive.

Jesus Is Ready to Forgive

Jesus is telling us that He is ready to forgive any sin that you have committed if you will come to Him today.

He is ready to forgive our lies, thefts, sins of thought and speech, open sins and secret sins, sins from long ago, and sins repeated many times.

Notice, He is ready to forgive all blasphemies. That certainly includes blasphemous words, blasphemous thoughts, and blasphemous deeds. And Jesus gives us His word: “I tell you the truth!”

All the sins and blasphemies of men and women will be forgiven. That means the blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient to cover every sin, including yours!

Take this promise from Jesus and believe it. Come to Him on the basis of His word. Tell Him about your sins. Name them. Confess them, and find peace with God through the blood of Christ today.

Now, to the negative, the warning.

Jesus Will Not Forgive Those Who Reject Him

As I said, many believers worry that they may have committed this sin. But, be encouraged, if you are at all worried that you might have committed this sin, you can be quite certain that you haven’t.

What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? It's to do what the teachers of the law were in danger of doing. What did they do? They saw the work of Christ and concluded that He was in league with the devil.

The sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of continuing to reject Jesus Christ and His work.

Why is it called “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?” Because the Spirit came upon Jesus at His baptism, and from that moment on, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is the ministry of Jesus.

Notice, Jesus does not say that the teachers of the law had committed this sin, but that they were close to it. That’s why He gives them this warning. These men are educated rebels. They could pass a Bible exam. They could write first-class papers in Bible school. Their knowledge was impressive, but they refused to submit to the authority of Christ.

There is a hardness of heart that can come to the most studious people.

A Promise and a Warning

God stands ready to forgive any sin through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for you. That’s the promise.

But if you go on refusing this Christ there is no other way in which you can be forgiven. That’s the warning.

I hope and pray that God will help you apply this to your life, and that you will find real encouragement and comfort in God’s Word.

Pastor Tim

How to Minister to Someone Whose Faith Is Under Fire

Your faith is always under fire. It is always being pounded, and that can happen in one of two ways.

Trials. "We sent Timothy…to strengthen and encourage you in your faith so that no one would be unsettled by these trials" (1 Thessalonians 3:2).

The Tempter. "For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless" (1 Thessalonians 3:5).

Looking over this whole book, I am struck by the love Paul has for these believers and the depth of his commitment to them. He is desperate for news. "We wanted to come to you…but Satan stopped us" (2:18). Paul had to deal with something Satan did. Perhaps it was some plot against his life, or some sin, or scandal at Corinth. We don’t know. This was desperately frustrating for Paul. "When we could stand it no longer…we sent Timothy" (3:1).
Three Keys to Ministry
Think about someone you know whose faith is under fire from great trials or a particular attack from the tempter. How would you minister to this person? Paul gives us a model in his letter to the church in Thessalonica.
1. The Ministry of Presence
Paul would have gone himself. But when he couldn’t do that, he sent somebody else: Timothy.

Timothy goes to “find out” about their faith (1 Thessalonians 3:5). So Timothy asked people, “How is all that's happening in your life affecting your faith? What are the biggest questions for you?” This is real pastoral care. He goes. He asks. And he listens.

Think about Christians you know who are under great pressure. What is happening to their faith? We need to practice godly vigilance for the spiritual good of others. And we need to ask them, “How is your faith? What’s happening to your love for Christ? How is this affecting your ability to pray?”
2. The Ministry of the Word
Paul sent Timothy, and then he wrote them this letter. This is no ordinary letter. It was written under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That was unique. We can’t write more Scripture for people whose faith is under fire, but we can read and apply the Scriptures (that have already been written) to their lives.
3. The Ministry of Prayer

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith… (1 Thessalonians 3:10)

These folks are always in Paul’s mind and on his heart. What a strength it is when someone says, “You have been in my mind and on my heart. I’ve been praying for you.”
Everyone's Ministry
This is a ministry for all of us. Who do you know whose faith is under fire? Your calling is to strengthen and encourage them in their faith, and you do that through your presence, through the Word, and through your prayers.

These are the elements of true pastoral care:

You go.
You read the Scriptures.
You pray.

And if you cannot go yourself, you make sure that someone else goes for you.

This is how you minister to a friend, a neighbor, or a family member whose faith is under fire. To whom might you minister today?




Free Course
Many ministry leaders face great discouragement. It may be problems in their ministry or church. It may be the growing evil in our world that flourishes while gospel fruit languishes. Or maybe it’s the mixed results of their ministries. To sustain a lifetime of service to Jesus Christ, we need God’s perspective.

In Sustaining a Lifetime of Ministry, Pastor Colin Smith draws from Jesus’ Kingdom Parables in Matthew 13 to share foundational truth about what ministry in Christ’s kingdom is like. This is essential teaching for any gospel worker who wants to persevere in ministry over the long haul.

Bible Q&A: Is Reincarnation Taught in the Bible?

Question: Do Christians believe in reincarnation? Is it taught in the Bible? If not, where does the idea come from?

The idea of reincarnation is a Buddhist teaching, and it is also taught in Hinduism and other Asian religions. Reincarnation, in its most simplified form, is the idea that after we die, we are reborn in another form. If we have lived a good life, we will be reincarnated in a higher form. But if we have lived a bad life, we will be reincarnated in a lower form. So, whether we have been good or bad will determine where we are reborn.

Buddhists believe that there are six realms: 1) The heavenly realm, 2) the demi-god realm, 3) the human realm, 4) the animal realm, 5) the ghost realm, and 6) the realm of hell. Hindus believe that the soul does not have a beginning or an end—it is eternal, immortal, ageless. But the Bible teaches that every soul has a beginning:

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (Genesis 2:7)

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)

The Bible is clear that we have a beginning. But are we immortal? Do we have no end? From a Christian perspective we know that God alone has immortality:

The blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

Here are two passages of Scripture that talk specifically about our future after death:

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29)

It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

I am not an expert in reincarnation, but I do know it is not a Christian teaching. The Bible teaches that we live, die, and then comes the judgment. We have one life to live. We are not reincarnated into another form after we die.

The resurrection of Jesus (in a body) shows us what kind of body we will have when we die and are raised. Everyone who puts his or her faith in Jesus will have a resurrected body that is adapted for eternity. Take your greatest joy in life, multiply it a million times, and make it last forever—that’s what heaven will be like. I pray that you will be there (in your new body) to enjoy it!

Pastor Tim

PS: If you'd like to learn more on what the Bible teaches about death and the afterlife, check out Pastor Colin's sermon series titled The Inside Story of Your Future Life.

Eight Ways to Use the Psalms

The Psalms are a unique treasure of Scripture that connect a believer’s head and heart in a rich and vivid way. While most of Scripture delivers words from God to man, the Psalms provide man with Spirit-inspired words to pray and sing to God.

The format and diversity of the Psalms allows them to be used in a number of powerful ways individually and corporately – almost like a Swiss Army knife for our spiritual lives.
Eight Ways to Use the Psalms
1. Use the Psalms to cultivate a godly prayer life.
Have you ever not known what to pray? The psalms give believers the right words to pray when no words come to mind.

The Psalms teach the importance of being honest with God and that it’s okay to ask, “Why?” and “How long, O Lord?” We learn the necessity of submitting to Him in difficult times and the joy we have in approaching Him when we contemplate His greatness. Following the Psalter’s prayer patterns will enrich our prayers, making their substance fuller and more God-centered.
2. Use the Psalms to cultivate a life of worship.
How did Moses respond to God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt? He sang a song (Exodus 15). How did David respond to the Lord’s deliverance from his enemies and Saul? He wrote a hymn of praise (2 Samuel 22; cf. Psalm 18). How did Asaph cure his envy of the wicked? He worshipped God and remembered his enemies' fate (he recorded his story in Psalm 73).

Singing the psalms allows us to proclaim God’s words and let them dwell richly within us (Colossians 3:16). In doing so, we will be shaping our lives according to God’s Word and making worship a more natural part of our lives. The default setting of our hearts will be more focused on praise than on things like worry, our lives, and ourselves.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. (Psalm 84:1-2)

3. Use the Psalms to cultivate a culture of worship at your church.
The book of Psalms is a hymnal filled with songs for God’s people. Many of the psalms are intended for corporate worship, with some being directed to the Choirmaster and prescribing specific instruments for accompaniment (for example, Psalms 51-62).

Reading or singing the psalms corporately will shape individual hearts and minds in the congregation and help your church pursue a culture of worship.

Use them at the start of a service as a call to worship, for responsive readings, or as a response to a sermon. Your congregation will love how the rich imagery of Scripture speaks to their daily life and experience – and it will make their hearts sing!
4. Use the Psalms to cultivate a deep hunger for God.
The Psalms are a mirror to our souls that reveal our deepest longings. Their words shape our hearts by connecting with the Psalmists in a deep and emotional way:

One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1)

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)

As you read the psalms and make them your prayer, God will work in you and change your desires to be more like His. You will be delighting in the Lord and will receive the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance. (C.S. Lewis)

5. Use the Psalms to cultivate a godly emotional life.
All Christians face emotional ups and downs. That goes for even the most even-keeled saints because even our Lord Himself went through emotional triumph and turmoil. The Psalms provide a faithful road map to follow in the world of emotions – triumph, turmoil, and everything in between. C. John Collins put it this way: “The psalms do not simply express emotions: when sung in faith, they actually shape the emotions of the godly.”

How do we respond to deep sadness? Look to Psalm 43, which says, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
How do we respond when the wicked prosper? Look to Psalm 37:7, which says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
How do we thank the Lord for such a great salvation? “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!” (Psalm 107:21-22).

Using the Psalms for a biblical outlook on emotions will tune the strings of your heart to God’s perfect pitch.
6. Use the Psalms to cultivate a thankful heart.
God desires us to be thankful – in fact, thankfulness is His will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Cultivating a thankful heart is especially important in a culture (even a church culture) that focuses on the gifts God gives instead of being thankful for what He already has given us in Christ. Thanking God puts us in our proper place as humble creatures dependent on an abundantly gracious Creator.

The Psalms of Thanksgiving celebrate God’s works and goodness to us. Like the Psalmists, we can remember God’s goodness across all of history (Psalm 105) and also His goodness to us personally (Psalm 40).

When God has turned your mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11), given you a firm place to stand (Psalm 40:1-2), and been your rock and salvation (Psalm 62:1), how could you keep your heart from giving thanks?
7. Use the Psalms to cultivate a deeper understanding of the Christian life.
The Psalms will shatter to pieces any ideas that being a Christian is a walk in the park. The Psalms show us the wide spectrum of the Christian life, from mountain top experiences to walking in the valley of the shadow of death.

We can hide from our enemies in a cave with David (Psalm 57), cry out to God because of injustice with Asaph (Psalm 82), contemplate the shortness of life and greatness of God with Moses (Psalm 90), and enter into the abandonment of our Savior (Psalm 22). The Psalms will teach us how to live wisely in difficult times.

As you read the Psalms with your Christian experience in mind, God will humble you, refine your expectations about life, and show you His faithfulness and steadfast love.
8. Use the Psalms to behold the Savior.
Jesus used the Psalms in many of the ways described above. Christ was intimately acquainted with the Psalms and would have both prayed them and sung them. Jesus was fully God and fully man – this means that He knows the experience of the psalmists and is Himself the God described as a King we can take refuge in.

We see in Jesus’ own words to His disciples that the Psalms find their ultimate fulfillment in Him: “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). As you read through the Psalms, keep a close eye on New Testament cross-references that quote the Psalms in reference to Christ. Also keep an eye on references to gospel themes or characteristics of Christ.

Here are a few highlights of Christ in the Psalms:

Psalm 102:25-29 describes Christ as the eternal Creator (cf. Hebrews 1:10-12).
Psalm 16 describes the resurrection and future glory of Christ (Acts 2:25–28).
Psalm 110 describes the dominion of Christ and His future judgment (Hebrews 7:11–28).

Seeing Jesus Christ in the Psalms is more than playing “Where’s Waldo” – looking for Christ and then quickly moving on to the next thing. God wants us to encounter the living Christ and find life in His name. He wants to transform our hearts and minds to love Him and glorify Him like He did with the psalmists.

 



 

Watch this clip on the power of praying Psalm 37 from the free course Pray the Bible:

Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers to Be Rich?

Question: I am a poor man and I am praying to God to be rich, but He doesn’t answer my prayer. Why?

Answer: I am sorry to hear that you are struggling financially. The Bible never teaches that it is a good thing to be poor, and I believe God takes no pleasure in this. (Although God does call being “poor in spirit” blessed (Matthew 5:3), I take this to mean humility before the Lord, not financial need.) 

I’d like to answer your question in two parts. First, I’d like to share the good news that God wants to give you much more than money, if only you would let Him. And, second, I’d like to share God’s warning about the dangers of wanting to get rich.
God Wants to Give You More than Money

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Let’s consider what God is saying to us, phrase by phrase…

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…

Grace is when you receive something that you don’t deserve. Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world to give something to you—grace. God’s law tells us what God requires of us. But none of us has kept His law. We deserve punishment, but God sent His Son first, so that we might choose grace instead. 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich… 

Jesus is not simply a good man. He came to us from God. Before He came to us, He was in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. He was Lord of all. He was worshiped by the angels. And He left this all behind when He came to us. That’s what this verse means when it says He was rich.  

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor…

What does God mean when He tells us that Jesus became poor? Jesus took on human flesh. He became a man, though He is equal with God. He did this for you and me. He became obedient to God the Father, even to the point of death, by dying on a cross. He did this to pay for our sins. He was our substitute on the cross. He was paying for our sins, not His own. Jesus did all this for us!

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Jesus did all this, not so that He could fill our pocket with money. He did this to bring us near to God, so that He could fill our hearts with love. He did this so that we could become sons and daughters of God. He did this so that we could be with God forever in heaven—that’s what the Bible calls eternal life. 

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world, so that you and I could be forgiven, be adopted as sons, and have a future in heaven with God that goes on forever. According to God’s accounting, eternal life is worth more than if God gave us all the riches this world has to offer. And God offers all this freely to us. 

All you need to do to receive this gift is to turn from your sins and embrace Jesus as your Savior and Lord. As you do, He will fill you with His presence—the Holy Spirit. In order to grow in your new faith, begin reading the Bible, and find a church, where you can worship with other believers.
God’s Gracious Warning
God warns us about the dangers of wanting to get rich. 

But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 6:8-10

It is important to remember that “poor” is a relative term. People sometimes consider themselves poor, even though they have food and clothing, because they are comparing themselves to others who have more. But those who want to get rich are more likely to fall prey to certain temptations, with painful consequences. The love of money (no matter how little or how much you have) can destroy your life. And so, God instructs us to pursue contentment, and reject the love of money.
A Prayer for Contentment in God
Here is a prayer that I have found helpful and I frequently pray it when I am lacking contentment with what I have:

Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8-9

I’m praying that this will be helpful to you as you seek the Lord,

Pastor Tim

Use the Spirit’s Prayers

The Bible contains some marvelous prayers that were breathed out directly by the Spirit of God. You find them in the Psalms. Using these Psalms to shape your prayers is a great way to discover the help of the Holy Spirit.

The whole Bible was written as men were carried along by the Holy Spirit and, as you fill your mind with God’s Word, you will begin to think God’s thoughts after Him. Your prayers will begin to reflect the purposes of God and play a role in bringing these about.

As you learn to form your prayers from the Bible, you will be praying in the Spirit because you are praying in a way that reflects the heart and mind of God.

Turning the Scriptures into prayers will help you keep your prayers fresh. Every day you will see something new as you read through the Scriptures, and you will be able to return God’s thoughts back to Him in your prayers. As you soak yourself in the Scriptures, your mind will be guided into the thoughts of God.

Let’s take the first Psalm as an example.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. (Ps. 1:1)

Reading these words, you could ask God to help you recognize advice that dishonors Him and to resist following it. You could ask that God would keep you from cynicism. You could ask that He would help you to identify wrong paths and overcome the desire to pursue them. You could offer thanks for ways in which God has done this already. You could pray for colleagues who do not know or love Christ and ask God’s help to be a light to them.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Ps. 1:2)

Here you could ask God to increase your love for Him and for His law. You could ask Him to help you see the blessing of walking His own way and to give you greater joy, freedom, and wholeheartedness in doing so.

There are many benefits to this approach to prayer:

First, it keeps your prayers from becoming dull and repetitive.
Second, it keeps your prayers from becoming self-centered.
Third, you can have confidence that what you are asking is in line with the mind and heart of God.

There is a great difference between Christian praying and eastern mysticism. Mysticism says, “Empty your mind so that you can pray.” Christianity says, “Fill your mind so that you can pray.” Let an open Bible guide your praying, and you will begin to discover what it means to pray in the Holy Spirit.

Rediscovering the Psalms will transform your prayer life. They will give you words that have been breathed out by the Holy Spirit, bringing balance and perspective to your prayers.



 

Watch Pastor Colin go deeper on this topic in the session "Praying in the Spirit" from the Watch Your Life course.

25 Powerful Prayers from the Bible

In my research into why we struggle to pray, one of the top answers was "I don't know what to pray." Many people feel stuck repeating a handful of prayer requests and as a result, give up on prayer before they really begin.

I've found the best answer to that struggle is the practice of praying the Bible . Think of it as having a conversation with God. God starts the conversation by speaking to us through His Word. Praying the Bible is simply responding to the conversation that God our Father has already started. This is a great practical relief for me! I don't need to wait until I'm especially inspired or sharp to approach God in prayer. I just open the Bible, read what God says in His Word, and respond. It's that simple.

While we can pray in response to whatever we read in the Bible, I've found the prayers of Scripture a unique treasure. These prayers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, help us know God's priorities for prayer and can inspire our own prayers.

What follows are 25 powerful prayers from the Bible you can easily adapt for prayer.1
25 Powerful Prayers from the Bible
Prayers of the Old Testament
1. Numbers 6:24–26 – Aaron's Priestly Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Ever since creation, God has wanted His people to enjoy His blessing (Genesis 1:28). Sin brought the curse into the world, but God promised to bless the whole world through Abraham's seed, a promise fully realized in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3). When we pray this blessing for ourselves or others, we ask God to fulfill His purposes in blessing His people with His peace and presence.



 

2. Psalm 19 – David's Prayer in Response to God's Glorious Self-Revelation

Keep back your servant also from willful sins.
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I will be upright.
I will be blameless and innocent
of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and
the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
Lord, my rock, and my redeemer. (verses 13–14)

The first section of Psalm 19 (verses 1–6) praises God for revealing Himself in creation. "The heavens declare the glory of God" (verse 1). The second section praises God for revealing Himself in His Word, explaining that God's Word revives the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, and is greater than gold and sweeter than honey (verses 7–11).

David closes the Psalm in a surprising way: a prayer for protection against sin. Just like nothing is hidden from the heat and light of the sun (verse 6), the Word of God shines light that exposes the dark corners of our souls (verses 7–11). David pleads for God to help him to live a God-honoring life.



 

3. Psalm 23 – David's Prayer for Comfort, Peace, and Trust

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (verses 4–6)

Praying Psalm 23, one of the most believed portions of Scripture, will comfort your heart and instill confidence in our Good Shepherd as you meditate on His gracious dealings in every area of your life. You might consider memorizing Psalm 23 for your prayer life or for bringing the comfort of God to others in need.

Go deeper on Psalm 23 with this sermon series by Pastor Colin Smith.



 

4. Psalm 25 – David's Prayer for Help, Guidance, and Forgiveness

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. (verses 4–5)

We don't know what troubling situation drove David to pen Psalm 25. We do know it involved his enemies, a need for God's guidance, and sin in his life. If you feel like you've reached a dead end in life, pray this prayer for God to help you find His path forward.



 

5. Psalm 37 – David's Prayer for When the Wicked Prosper

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (verses 1–4)

Psalm 37 presents commands "Fret not yourself because of evil doers" (verse 1), "Trust in the Lord and do good" (verse 3), and "Delight yourself in the Lord" (verse 4) and also provides the results of following the commands: "fret not yourself" because the wicked will "soon fade like the grass" (verse 2), "Delight yourself in the Lord" and "he will give you the desires of your heart" (verse 4). The Psalm repeatedly contrasts the fate of the righteous (they shall inherit the land) with that of the wicked (they will be no more).

Martyn Lloyd-Jones pointed to this Psalm as a key reason why he did not fear Hitler during World War II. Lloyd-Jones knew that even as a wicked man spread himself like a green laurel tree, he would pass away and be no more (verses 35–36).

Video: The Power of Praying Psalm 37 (from the free course Pray the Bible)




 

6. Psalm 42–43 – A Prayer for Hope During a Dry Season

If you have ever felt depressed, longing for better days when God seemed so close, this Psalm is for you. The Psalmist cries out in a desert land thirsty for God (verses 1–2). He is far from Jerusalem, hearing his enemies cry out “Where is your God?” (verse 3, 10), and remembering the good times he had experienced with the people of God (verse 4). How does the Psalmist keep from despair? By preaching this key refrain to himself:

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God. (42:5–6, 11; 43:5)

If you feel like you’re spiritually dying of thirst, take heart. There is ALWAYS hope in God, our salvation. When you feel depressed, preach that to yourself. And cry out to God to satisfy your famished soul.

Watch the sermon on Psalm 42–43 "Hope in God" by Pastor Colin Smith.



 

7. Psalm 51 – David's Prayer for Mercy from a Broken and Sinful Heart

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! (verses 1–2)

David prayed this prayer after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. (Read about that story in 2 Samuel 11-12.) David knew that he sinned first against God. "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (4), and casts himself on the mercy of God for mercy and a clean heart.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (verses 10, 12)

Other psalms for confession and repentance include: 6, 32, 38, 102, 130, 143.



 

8. Psalm 77 – Asaph's Lament for the Day of Trouble

Asaph opens this Psalm crying aloud to God (1). “In the day of my trouble I will seek the Lord…my soul refuses to be comforted” (2). Asaph then confesses the depth of his anguish: “I am so troubled that I cannot speak” (4). Has God removed His favor, abandoned His promises, and shut up His compassion? Asaph wonders (7–9). The turning point for Asaph comes when he takes his eyes off of his situation and sets them on the glorious works of God in the past:

I will remember the deeds of the Lord, yes, I will remember your wonders of old. (verse 11)

Asaph brought to mind God’s glorious work in redeeming His people from slavery in Egypt, parting the Red Sea, and caring for His people in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.

Often during bouts with great anxiety, our heart can’t stop meditating on our anxieties. What we need is a fresh perspective, a reason to worship God instead of question His goodness. When you battle troubling situations, look to God’s mighty works in the past, don’t just focus on your little world. Look especially to the death and resurrection of Jesus, who is a new and better Moses leading the redemption of God’s children from slavery to sin to the Promised Land of heaven (see Hebrews 3:1–6).



 

9. Proverbs 30:7–9 – Agur's Prayer for Godliness and Contentment

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Agur's prayer—the only prayer in the book of Proverbs—is easy to miss, but packs great wisdom in only three verses. Agur prays with death in mind ("deny them not to me before I die"), asking God to clear his path of any real or potential hindrance to godliness (falsehood, lying, riches, poverty) and asks for God to meet his daily needs ("feed me with the food that is needful for me"). We benefit from contemplating Agar's petitions as well as his heart: he truly desires a life of holiness that honors the name of his God.



 

10. 1 Kings 3:3–9 – Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom

Early in King Solomon's reign, God appeared to him in a dream, saying "Ask what I shall give you." What an offer! Solomon's response reflected a heart that both knew God's grace to his father, David, and his own desperate need:

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? (verses 7-9, emphasis mine)

The result? "It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, 'Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you'" (1 Kings 3:10–12).

Like Solomon, we can pray for wisdom, expectant of an answer, for as James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." Take that promise to the bank!



 

11. 1 Chronicles 4:10 – Jabez's Prayer for Blessing and Protection

Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

The Prayer of Jabez has stirred controversy since some use it in a name-it-claim it way that aligns with the unbiblical prosperity gospel. As a result, many dismiss it altogether. But to dismiss it is to dismiss a prayer God wanted us to have.

The key to praying the Prayer of Jabez is understanding its context and praying it in Jesus' name, which is a key to all prayer. The books of Chronicles were written after Israel had returned from exile in Babylon. The books' purpose was to encourage God's people that He had not abandoned them nor His promises to them. Thus, Jabez and his prayer reminded God's people of His grace and blessing to His people, encouraging them to believe and pray in a similar fashion.

We pray the Prayer of Jabez in Jesus's name when we pray it not according to our fleshly desires, but rather for His purposes and glory. Like all prayer, God won't always answer in the way we want. We often think of blessing as the addition of material goods, whereas God may bless us by subtracting material goods to add more of Himself, the greatest blessing (Philippians 4:11–13).



 

12. 2 Chronicles 20:6–12 – Jehoshaphat's Prayer of Faith in Crisis

With the impending invasion of the enemy, King Jehoshaphat called upon the people of Judah to seek God. Then in front of the great assembly, Jehoshaphat prayed, reminding God of His character and His promises to give Israel the land they inhabited:

"O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (verse 12, emphasis added)

God responded, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s" (verse 15). Filled with joy at this response, the people of God worshipped by singing loudly (verses 18, 19, 22). Then God gave the victory.

When we feel trapped in darkness, look to God in faith and ask Him to act. Living by faith is like following a rope that leads us out of the darkness.




Prayers of the New Testament
Prayers of the Lord Jesus Christ
13. Matthew 6:9–13 – Jesus’s Model Prayer for His Disciples (the Lord's Prayer)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus shares a Masterclass on prayer and the Christian life in just 52 words. J.I. Packer even says of the Lord's Prayer, "What it means to be a Christian is nowhere clearer than here."

The Lord's Prayer can also help us overcome many of our struggles in prayer. In the video below, I share three ways to pray the Lord's Prayer. (Go deeper on the Lord's Prayer in sermon series by Pastor Colin Smith.)



This video is an excerpt from the free course Pray the Bible.



 

14. John 17 – Jesus's High Priestly Prayer

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (verses 20–24)

Jesus' High Priestly Prayer comes right before His arrest and shows us the priorities on His heart as He anticipated the cross. He prayed for Himself (1–5), His disciples (6–19), and future generations of believers (20–26). Key petitions include "Glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you" (verse 1), "sanctify [my disciples] in the truth" (verse 17), and that they "may be one" (verses 11, 22, 23).

Sermon: Jesus Will Show You His Glory by Pastor Colin Smith



 

15. Luke 23:34 – Jesus's Cry for the Forgiveness of His Executioners from the Cross

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34

Many in our world say, "hate your enemies and destroy their lives." Jesus says, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). He models this in His dying moments as He petitions God to forgive His executioners.

Moments later, after the death of Jesus, the earth shook. The Gospel of Matthew records, "When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, 'Truly this was the Son of God!'" (Matthew 27:54). God the Father opened the eyes of the centurion and others to see the identity of Christ, thus showing how God answered Jesus's prayer.

Who can you ask God to forgive?



Prayers of the Apostle Paul
16. Ephesians 1:15–23 – Paul's Prayer for a Deeper Experience of the Gospel

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. (verses 16–19)

The context helps us understand how this prayer functions in Ephesians. Ephesians 1:3-14 is a glorious unpacking of so many benefits that we enjoy in Christ: every spiritual blessing, election from before the foundation of the world, adoption into God's family, forgiveness of sins, the seal of the Holy Spirit.

The prayer of 1:15–23 is simply to connect the Ephesians' head knowledge of those glorious truths with their heart knowledge, their everyday life experience. In verses 17–18, it says Paul wants them to have a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ and to have the eyes of their hearts enlightened to know three specific things in their everyday lives: "what is the hope to which he has called you", "what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints", "what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe" (emphasis added). Watch this video to go deeper into what this prayer means and how we can pray it.



This video is an excerpt from the free course Pray the Bible.



 

17. Ephesians 3:14–21 – Paul's Prayer for Increasing Strength and Fullness

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (verses 14–19)

John Stott provides a helpful summary of the four key petitions of this prayer:

"[Paul's] prayer is like a staircase by which he ascends higher and higher in his aspiration for them… [It] has four steps whose keywords are ‘strength’ (that they might be strengthened by Christ’s indwelling through the Spirit), secondly ‘love’ (that they might be rooted and grounded in love), thirdly ‘knowledge’ (that they might know Christ’s love in all its dimensions, although it is beyond knowledge), and fourthly ‘fullness’ (that they might be filled up to the very fullness of God)."2

Each of the four key petitions is something we need more of in our lives, and is something we can ask God for.

After asking God for these things to be true in the lives of the Ephesian church, Paul ends his prayer in praise:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (20–21)

 

18. Romans 11:33–36 – Paul's Doxology Extolling the Riches, Wisdom, and Knowledge of God

Romans 1–11 is regarded by many as the most detailed and glorious explanation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before transitioning to a practical application of the gospel in Romans 12–16, the apostle Paul ends his explanation of the gospel with a glorious doxology:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

My soul soars when I read this passage—there is no one like our God! I love how verse 36 (bolded above) answers all of life's biggest questions in twelve short words—For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things:

Where did we come from? God is the Maker of all things (‘from Him’).
What holds the universe together? God is the Sustainer of all things (‘through Him’).
What is the purpose of life? God is the Goal of all things (‘to Him’).

He alone deserves the glory forever!



 

19. Romans 15:13 – Paul's Prayer for Joy, Peace, and Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

This short prayer of the apostle Paul is rich. We learn that the fountain of joy and peace is our God of hope. This God of hope is able to give us not a little joy and peace, but all joy and peace. And the result of filling us with peace and joy in believing is that we abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As my mother battled the cancer that eventually took her life, she meditated on this verse, writing it on the whiteboard of her hospital room to anchor her soul in our God of hope. Her hope has been realized, and she now enjoys all joy and peace in God's presence. In Christ, we await the same glorious future.





 

20. Colossians 1:9–12 – Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Dr. David Garland commented on this passage in the NIV Zondervan Study Bible: "Paul describes four elements of a life that is worthy of and fully pleasing to the Lord: bearing fruit, growing in knowledge of God, being strengthened for endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks. These fundamentals will fend off the harmful pressures from false teachers." Pray these petitions to ground yourself in Christ and root yourself in sound doctrine.

Video: Seven Tests for Discerning God's Will



 

21. Philippians 1:9-11 – Paul's Prayer for Love, Knowledge, and Discernment

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

If you've ever wondered how to pray and live in confusing situations filled with divisions and relational tensions, Philippians 1:9–11 gives us an answer. Paul wants the Philippians to grow in love, and for their love "to abound more and more." This love is to be accompanied by knowledge and all discernment.

We need to know God and His ways. We also need to discern right from wrong and wisdom from folly when faced with challenging situations. When God equips us with love, knowledge, and discernment, we will be "pure and blameless for the day of Christ" and "filled with the fruit of righteousness"—two glorious outcomes!



 

22. Thessalonians 3:1–2 – Paul's Prayer for Gospel Advance

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.

If you find yourself perpetually discouraged as you think about the wicked, go on the offensive by praying for the word of the Lord to speed ahead and be honored in your life, your family, your church, your community, and among evil doers. The word of God sped ahead in Paul's life, transforming him from a violent persecutor to a gospel preacher, and sped ahead in the Thessalonian church who formerly had worshipped idols (1 Thessalonians 1:9, 2:13). He can do it again!

Also pray on the defensive, that believers and ministry leaders would be "delivered from wicked and evil men" (verse 2) so they can continue to proclaim the gospel without hindrance.

Sermon: Advancing the Gospel by Pastor Colin Smith




Other Prayers from the New Testament
23. Acts 4:24–30 – A Prayer for Boldness in Sharing the Gospel of Jesus

After preaching Jesus as the risen Messiah, Peter and John were apprehended by authorities who "charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18). After their release, they gathered with their friends and prayed together. What they asked for—and didn't ask for—might surprise you:

Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit [in Psalm 2],

‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’ — for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness… (Acts 4:24–29)

Instead of asking for freedom from continued persecution (which is a fine prayer), they prayed for boldness in sharing the gospel (see also Ephesians 6:18–20). God responded immediately to their prayer, "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness" (verse 31).



 

24. Jude 24–25 – A Doxology Praising God for His Ability to Keep Us from Stumbling

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude opens his short epistle basically saying, "This isn't what I wanted to write." In verse 3 he explains, "I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." Internal and external threats attacked the church and lured her toward ungodliness. Two key commands of the book are to "contend for the faith" (3) and "keep yourselves in the love of God" (21)—a difficult task!

Jude closes his short epistle in praise. While we labor to keep ourselves in the love of God and free from stumbling into sin, God is able to keep us. As Charles Spurgeon said, "You can never make yourself faultless, but Christ can. He wants to do it: He has opened a fountain for sin and for uncleanness: wash and be clean."3

As you persevere in following Jesus, ask God to keep you. Ask Him to present you blameless before His presence with great joy. He is able!



 

25. Revelation 22:20 – The Prayer to End All Prayers4

"Come, Lord Jesus!"

There's no better way to end this list than to share the prayer the Bible ends with: "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).

It's common to hear cries like "End Injustice!" "End Trafficking!" "End Racism!". We as believers should agree whole-heartedly with these cries. And yet, praying "Come, Lord Jesus!" raises the bar as high as possible. It includes those cries and several more that are much greater: "End sin!" "End all suffering!" "End death!"

Praying "Come, Lord Jesus!" asks God to end everything that makes the world broken and asks Him to make all things new. It's the prayer to end all prayers because when Jesus returns, our faith will turn to sight and prayer will no longer be necessary since we will enjoy the presence of our God forever (Revelation 21:3–8).

 



 

1 I chose prayers we can easily adapt for prayer, and thus had to pass up on many great prayers from the Psalms and from people like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Ezra, Nehemiah, and others.

2 John Stott shared this in the Themelios article "Paul Prays for the Church."

3 Charles Spurgeon, in his sermon on Jude 23–24 titled "Christians Kept In Time And Glorified In Eternity", part of the book God's Purpose for Your Suffering.

4 Marshall Segal used this as the title of his article on the "Come, Lord Jesus" prayer.