Praying with Paul

1 Corinthians 4:14-21



Dear Father, king of the ages,
I am proud to be your child, and I want to listen carefully to your admonition. Help me to listen to you through the words of my spiritual fathers in the faith, your apostles. May I imitate them!
Remind me of their ways in Christ. From them and through them may I learn that the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
Come to me, Lord, to chasten me and change me. But please show your love in a spirit of...

 

1 Corinthians 4:8-13



Dear Father, king of the ages,
Would that your people were already filled! Would that they were already rich! Would that they were already kings and sharing the reign with each other! For then I would be sharing in it too.
We know all this grandeur awaits us in the kingdom that is to come, but for now, give us the endurance to follow your apostles in a parade that is a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Many are strong, but we may have to...

 

1 Corinthians 4:6-7



Dear Father,
Help me to live according to your Holy Scriptures. That is why I pray to you in their very words. I want to be conformed to your will, for you will what is best for me. Help me not to be puffed up against my brothers and sisters in Christ. For who sees any difference in me. We all have been freely justified by your grace, forgiven of our sins.
What have I that I have not been given? I cannot boast of anything as if it were not a gift...

 

1 Corinthians 4:5



Dear Father, who drives away all the darkness,
Keep me from passing judgment before the proper time, before the Lord comes, for he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of every person's heart, including mine. And so everyone will receive appropriate commendation from you.
Let me be concerned about "this day" and "that day." Let me do my best to serve you "this day" - today, that I may stand before you on...

 

1 Corinthians 4:1-4



Dear Father, judge of all mankind,
Help me be a profitable slave to you and good steward of your mysteries. As a steward may I be found trustworthy.
May I not be concerned about being judged by human beings or by any human court. May I not even set in judgment on myself. Only you do that. I am not aware of anything against myself, but that, I understand, in and of itself, does not acquit me before you. You are my judge. You can condemn. And you can...

 

1 Corinthians 3:21-23



Dear Father, kind and generous God,
Let us look for the imitation of Jesus in the lives of others, for you have made this the measure of greatness. And even if we should find it, let us give the glory to you, to whom it truly belongs! For you are worthy!
Thank you that you don't pay us what you owe, but give us everything freely! For all things are ours through your grace — whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world, or life or death, or things...

 

1 Corinthians 3:16-20



Dear Father, who loves to dwell with man,
Thank you for dwelling within our spirits, for making us your holy temple!
Help us not to be deceived or to deceive ourselves. Let us be seen as foolish to the world, let us be fools for you, that we may be truly wise. For the wisdom of the world is pure folly in your eyes.
For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." So don't...

 

1 Corinthians 3:14-15



Dear Father, designer of destiny,
Even if I am not the best quality, you can save me myself - but I don't want to escape doom by a hairsbreadth. I want to fulfill all the potential you have placed within me and do all the good you have planned for me to do.
Help me, Father, through the example of the Lord Jesus to be everything that you want me to be, to do everything you want me do, and to live my life at the peak of quality. Make all of us into...

 

1 Corinthians 3:9-13



Dear Father, designer of destiny,
Thank you for your concern for us. We are the field that you tend, the building that you build. You build us as living stones upon the one foundation, Jesus Christ. No other foundation is provided. No other is adequate.
But Father, I am concerned. As I build on this foundation, and as I am built on it, may the quality of my life be such that it will survive the purifying fire of judgment. I don't want my life to be...

 

1 Corinthians 3:8-9



Dear Father, growth-giving God,
Both the planter and the waterer are equal and shall receive their wages according to their labor.
But you give life! You are the giver of growth! Your servants are just fellow workers for you. Our allegiance is not to them but to you. We are your field, your building.
Build us into a magnificent temple! Grow us into luxuriant plants! Show your creativity, your power, your wisdom, your bounty in us!
In the name of...