Praying with Paul

1 Corinthians 11:17-23



Dear Father, giver of bread and wine,
When we come together as your family to partake of bread and wine, let it truly be "the Lord's supper" which we eat. Let there be no divisions or preferences among us, no putting ourselves first, or putting our group first. Let there be no divisions between rich and poor, young and old, dark-skinned or light, white collar or blue collar. Let no one do anything that would humiliate another. For "the Lord's...

 

1 Corinthians 11:2-16



Dear Father, God of the present and the future, but also of the past,
Make me willing to consider and accept new things. But also help me to respect and maintain the traditions from the past. May I acknowledge that Christ is my head and submit myself to him, even as he acknowledges you as his head.
May Christian wives acknowledge the headship of their own husbands, and may their husbands honor Christ as their head. Help husbands and wives live...

 

1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1



Dear Father,
Keep me from giving offense to people of any race, any class, any tradition, not seeking my own advantage, but let me please everybody - for their good - that they may be saved.
Let me imitate your great apostles, but most of all let me imitate Jesus, who came to glorify your name, to serve instead of be served, and to seek and save those who were lost.
In the name of Jesus and in reliance upon his example I ask this. Amen.

Ⓒ...

 

1 Corinthians 10:14-22



Dear Father,
Never let an idol stand between me and you. I am not stronger than you. I don't want to provoke you to jealousy.
Help me to understand that while "all things are lawful," all things are not helpful.
Let everything I do, whether working or resting, eating or drinking, be done for your glory.
May I never worship myself, live for myself, or strive to please myself. I want to worship you, to live for you, to please you.
In the name of...

 

1 Corinthians 10:6-15



Dear Father, righteous judge of all mankind,
Help me to live as one upon whom the end of the ages has come. Help me take what happened to the Israelites as a warning to myself. Don't let me get puffed up, thinking that I cannot fall. But at the same time let me keep in mind that no temptation has overtaken me that is not common to man. Help me remember that you are faithful and will not allow me to be tempted beyond my strength, but with every...

 

1 Corinthians 10:1-5



Dear Father, righteous judge of all mankind,
Help me take to heart the examples of disobedience and punishment set by your ancient people as they wandered through the wilderness.
Although they were baptized into Moses in the cloud and the sea, and drank of the spiritual food and spiritual water, flowing backward through time from that spiritual Rock, which was Christ himself. In spite of all this, they got lost in the wilderness because they...

 

1 Corinthians 9:24



Dear Father,
Help me to compete like a runner aspiring for an Olympic gold medal. Help me to exercise discipline and self-control in all things that I may receive the imperishable victory wreath.
Help me not to run aimlessly or to box as one sparring against the air. Give me the grit to pommel my body, to bring it under subjection, lest after having shared the Good News with others I myself should be disqualified.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Ⓒ...

 

1 Corinthians 9:19-23



Dear Father, lover of all peoples,
Though I am free from all men, let me become a slave to all, that I may win many, many more people to the cause of the Lord.
To Jews help me become as a Jew, to non-Jews as a non-Jew, to the poor as one who is poor, to the weak as one who is weak, that I might by all means save some of them.
Help me to gladly do whatever is needful for the sake of the Good News, so that I may share in its blessings.
In the name of...

 

1 Corinthians 9:1-18



Dear Father, who sees my heart,
Help me to follow the excellent example of the Apostle Paul. Though he had a right to earn his livelihood from his preaching, he didn't do so. He chose not to make full use of his rights in the gospel and instead preached the message free of charge.
Grant that my service to you will not be motivated by monetary gain or personal ambition. Whatever I do, let it be done out of love for you, your Son, your Word and your...

 

1 Corinthians 8:7-13



Dear Father, the one real and only God,
Many do not understand that all reality is rooted in you, so they chase the "gods" of this world, the "idols" which they worship - money, fame, glamor, power, security - and in some cases real idols and the real demons who are behind those idols.
Many brothers and sisters in Christ have recently been freed from bondage to a culture that worships these false gods, and due to their weak consciences they can...