Praying with Paul

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Dear Father, who lifts our spirits,

According to your teaching, we look for the Lord himself to descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

We firmly believe that the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we, they and us, will be with the Lord and with you forever.

Guide us...

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-15

Dear Father, comforter of the bereaved,

On the death of our dear loved ones in Christ, may we comfort one another with thoughts of a glorious reunion.

Help us not grieve as those who have no hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, you will bring with you at your coming those who have fallen asleep.

We place our trust in you for ourselves, too, for we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not...

 

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Dear Father, perfecter of our love,

Don't ever let us disregard you or your Holy Spirit, which you give us. Give us perfect love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let this teaching of yours fill our minds. Let this love among us grow more and more, every day and in every way.

May we aspire to live quietly, to mind our own affairs, and to work with our hands or our minds, so that we may be dependent on no one and command the respect of those outside your...

 

1 Thessalonians 4:1-7

Dear Father, sanctifier of families,

Help us to learn how we ought to live and how we ought to please you. Help us give greater attention and effort to this. Your will for us is our sanctification, so enable us to abstain from all immorality.

Many people around us glorify and romanticize lust. Help us to reject this way of looking at things. Guide believers into marriages of holiness and honor, giving themselves to each other in spiritual union with Christ...

 

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Dear Father, our partner in caring,

How hard it is to be far away from those we want to encourage to walk in your ways. We leave them in your hands, Lord, and ask you to send your angels to guard their ways. Keep those that we love from the power of the tempter. Grant us good news from them. We long to hear that they are learning more and more of your will and growing in your grace. Let us know that they are standing firm in truth.

What thanksgiving we send...

 

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Dear Father, real source of the Bible,

Thank you for the word proclaimed in the New Testament. Help us accept it for what it really is, not mere words written by men, but the word of God, your will revealed to us and made alive in our lives.

May Jewish members of your church bear a great witness to Jesus as their rightful Messiah. May non-Jewish members follow their example and be willing to suffer with them for the salvation of mankind, Jew and non-Jew...

 

1 Thessalonians 2:5-12

Dear Father,

Keep all your preachers from using words of flattery, any cloak of greed, or from seeking glory for themselves, even though they have certain rights of support in the gospel. Let them reach out to people with care and gentleness, like a nurse caring for infants. Help them to be willing to share not only the gospel but their very selves.

May your witnesses exhibit holy, blameless, and righteous behavior, showing the care of a father, even as you...

 

1 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Dear Father,

I pray that every ministry being done in your name in our time will be done in unselfish love for you and for people. Please defeat those that serve to bring honor to themselves instead of you.

May people leading these ministries avoid everything that springs from error or uncleanness. Let there be no deceit in any appeal. Let those whom you have entrusted with the gospel live and speak not to please others but to please you.

In the holy name of Jesus...

 

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

Dear Father,

May our faith serve to call them to wait for your Son from heaven, whom you raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath that will ultimately come upon an unrepentant world.

Thank you for a love that reaches down and takes from within the world of sinners a people for yourself. Thank you for redeeming us, those sinners, for making us holy through your power, and for saving us for your eternal kingdom.

My God, you are so great, so...

 

1 Thessalonians 1:2-8

Dear Father,

Thank you for the great numbers of believers in Jesus Christ, for their works of faith, their labors of love, and their steadfastness of hope which they have in Christ. Thank you for choosing all of us and calling us to yourself by the Good News about Jesus. Thank you that this marvelous message came to us not only in word, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. Thank you for the example of your apostles as demonstrations of what...