Praying with Paul

Hebrews 2:14



Dear Father, King of all,
How full of grace you and your Son are for our sake! You let Jesus share in flesh and blood, partake of our nature, that he through his death might destroy the Devil, who held the power of death, and deliver us from lifelong bondage. Thank you for making Jesus so like us that he can now be a merciful and faithful high priest in our behalf, to make expiation for our sins. Thank you that, because he has suffered and has been tempted...

 

Romans 13:8-10



Dear Father,
I owe love to my fellow man, as you have said. What an endless debt! How can I keep your command to love my neighbor as myself? What would it be like to live in a world where such unselfishness prevailed? Ah, it would be heaven on earth, therefore such behavior is a precondition of our heavenly inheritance.
But Lord, be gentle in your judgment toward me. I fall so far short on this. Love would absolutely do no wrong to one's neighbor - never...

 

Romans 14:13-16



Dear Father, to whom all will bow,
Help me not pass judgment on others or despise them. Let me look to myself in view of the fact that I will have to give an account for my own self.
You have said, "As I live every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." Let me praise you now before the day of your judgment. Let my praise be willing and not forced.
Help me never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother or...

 

Romans 15:1-8



Dear Father, God of steadfast love,
May the strength you give us be used to bear with the failings of those who are weak, not to please ourselves, but to please our neighbor for his good, to build him up.
In this let us imitate Jesus, your Son, who did not please himself, but lived as it was written of him, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
May you, our Father, the God of steadfastness and encouragement, grant us Christians to live in...

 

Romans 15:1-13



Dear Father, who welcomes all into your family,
Help us to welcome one another, as Christ has welcomed us, for your glory.
For you taught us that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show your truthfulness - in order to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, and in order that we who were not Jews might glorify you for your mercy.
May you, our Father and God, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit...

 

Romans 13:11-14



Dear Father, object of my desires,
Everything points to the fact that we live in the last days. Knowing what hour it is, let me wake up from my sleep! For salvation is nearer to me now than when I first believed. The night is far gone. The day is at hand.
Help me cast off all the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let me conduct myself as becomes one of your people, not in reveling or drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in...

 

Romans 13:11-14



Dear Father, victorious deliverer,
May I be found in Christ, not trusting any righteousness of my own. Let me know him and the power of his resurrection. May I share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, so I might attain the resurrection of the dead.
O God, let me obtain it! Let me be awake! Let me put on the armor of light! Let me put on the Lord Jesus and his righteousness, and be found in him! Let me trust, obey, even suffer, in order to...

 

Romans 14:17-23



Dear Father, giver of brotherly love,
How wonderful that your kingdom, your rule in people's lives, is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. May I, in serving Christ this way, be acceptable to you and approved by others.
Let me and all the members of your family pursue what makes for peace and for mutual uplifting. Let none of us, for the sake of personal rights, destroy your work of grace in someone...

 

Romans 14:1-16



Dear Father, foundation of all our lives,
Make me compassionate and generous toward my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us welcome each other, and not dispute over opinions. May I never pass judgment on a brother or sister, for you have welcomed them. They are your servants. It is before you that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for you are able to make them stand.
Let us be fully convinced in our own minds about honoring certain days, or...

 

Romans 13:9



Dear Father, generous giver,
Love sees needs and shares resources. How lacking I am in this regard. Please forgive me and make me better. Give a spirit of generosity not only to me, but also to my wife, my children, and my whole extended family - also to my spiritual family, your church. Help all of us to be giving people, because you are a giving God. Move us to serve a needy world.
I praise you and thank you for all your mercies. You are so bountiful in...