Silas
Beloved of All
Your faithful intercession for these young men is a beautiful offering to the Lord, and I join you in lifting them before Him.
It is right that you are asking above all for their growth in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as Peter urges, and that they would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that they may walk worthy of Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. That kind of growth does not come by accident. It comes through disciplined habits of grace, through studying the Word to show themselves approved, and through steadfast prayer, continuing always with thanksgiving and supplication.
At the heart of your prayer is the request for wisdom, and Scripture shows us why that is the principal thing to seek. Knowledge can give facts, but wisdom teaches a person how to live. A man may be highly educated and still make foolish choices that ruin his life, because he lacks wisdom. True wisdom is better than rubies and better than wealth, and nothing we desire can compare to it. It dwells with prudence and gives sound counsel. Its beginning is the fear of the Lord, a reverent hatred of evil and love for what is holy. In Christ Himself are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, so to seek wisdom is to seek Him.
Wisdom is not quiet or hidden. She cries out in the streets, at the gates, along the paths where we walk, calling to the sons of men to listen and to understand. When a young man loves wisdom, forsakes her not, and exalts her, she will preserve him and keep him and promote him. She is a defense, and she gives life to those who have her. That is why Solomon pleased the Lord when he asked not for riches or honor but for an understanding heart to lead well, and God added other blessings besides.
If any of these young men lack wisdom, they can ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach. He does not scold us for asking. He delights to pour out the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that the eyes of their understanding may be enlightened to know His hope and His power.
I also join you in praying that their love would abound more and more in knowledge and discernment, that they may approve what is excellent and be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness. May that fruit be seen as the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, flowing from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith. May they grow in prayer as the disciples asked, Lord teach us to pray, and develop a true hunger for the Word like newborn infants craving milk, so they may grow thereby. May they become true worshipers who worship the Father in spirit and truth, and may the Lord distribute gifts of the Spirit among them as He wills, for the building up of the body and for witness, that they would go into the world with the gospel and see God confirm His Word.
You also prayed for their protection, and that is so needed. Many strong men have been slain through the weakness of their own flesh when they turned from wisdom to folly. Temptation itself is common to all, and even the Lord was tempted, yet temptation is not sin. Sin comes when desire conceives and we turn aside from God's path to seek immediate fulfillment. The testing of faith, when endured, works patience, but we must still pray as Jesus taught, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one, and as He prayed, that the Father would keep them from the evil one though they remain in the world. True wisdom from above is pure and peaceable and meek, it does not lead to bitter envy and strife. The wisdom of this world is earthly and sensual and leads to confusion, but the wisdom from above leads to a holy life. May God keep these young men from sin, from pride, and from the snare of the enemy, and cause them to stand blameless.
I pray the blessing of Aaron over them, that the Lord bless them and keep them, make His face shine upon them and be gracious to them, lift up His countenance upon them and give them peace. I pray for healing and restoration where needed, for the Lord who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases, by whose wounds we are healed. I pray they would be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks, with hearts guarded by the peace of God that passes understanding.
Thank you for standing in the gap for them, for asking that souls would be saved and that intercession would continue. May the Lord hear and answer according to His will, and may you have confidence as you pray, believing that what you ask according to His promises you shall receive. I ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
It is right that you are asking above all for their growth in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as Peter urges, and that they would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that they may walk worthy of Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. That kind of growth does not come by accident. It comes through disciplined habits of grace, through studying the Word to show themselves approved, and through steadfast prayer, continuing always with thanksgiving and supplication.
At the heart of your prayer is the request for wisdom, and Scripture shows us why that is the principal thing to seek. Knowledge can give facts, but wisdom teaches a person how to live. A man may be highly educated and still make foolish choices that ruin his life, because he lacks wisdom. True wisdom is better than rubies and better than wealth, and nothing we desire can compare to it. It dwells with prudence and gives sound counsel. Its beginning is the fear of the Lord, a reverent hatred of evil and love for what is holy. In Christ Himself are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, so to seek wisdom is to seek Him.
Wisdom is not quiet or hidden. She cries out in the streets, at the gates, along the paths where we walk, calling to the sons of men to listen and to understand. When a young man loves wisdom, forsakes her not, and exalts her, she will preserve him and keep him and promote him. She is a defense, and she gives life to those who have her. That is why Solomon pleased the Lord when he asked not for riches or honor but for an understanding heart to lead well, and God added other blessings besides.
If any of these young men lack wisdom, they can ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach. He does not scold us for asking. He delights to pour out the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that the eyes of their understanding may be enlightened to know His hope and His power.
I also join you in praying that their love would abound more and more in knowledge and discernment, that they may approve what is excellent and be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness. May that fruit be seen as the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, flowing from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith. May they grow in prayer as the disciples asked, Lord teach us to pray, and develop a true hunger for the Word like newborn infants craving milk, so they may grow thereby. May they become true worshipers who worship the Father in spirit and truth, and may the Lord distribute gifts of the Spirit among them as He wills, for the building up of the body and for witness, that they would go into the world with the gospel and see God confirm His Word.
You also prayed for their protection, and that is so needed. Many strong men have been slain through the weakness of their own flesh when they turned from wisdom to folly. Temptation itself is common to all, and even the Lord was tempted, yet temptation is not sin. Sin comes when desire conceives and we turn aside from God's path to seek immediate fulfillment. The testing of faith, when endured, works patience, but we must still pray as Jesus taught, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one, and as He prayed, that the Father would keep them from the evil one though they remain in the world. True wisdom from above is pure and peaceable and meek, it does not lead to bitter envy and strife. The wisdom of this world is earthly and sensual and leads to confusion, but the wisdom from above leads to a holy life. May God keep these young men from sin, from pride, and from the snare of the enemy, and cause them to stand blameless.
I pray the blessing of Aaron over them, that the Lord bless them and keep them, make His face shine upon them and be gracious to them, lift up His countenance upon them and give them peace. I pray for healing and restoration where needed, for the Lord who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases, by whose wounds we are healed. I pray they would be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks, with hearts guarded by the peace of God that passes understanding.
Thank you for standing in the gap for them, for asking that souls would be saved and that intercession would continue. May the Lord hear and answer according to His will, and may you have confidence as you pray, believing that what you ask according to His promises you shall receive. I ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
