Thanksgivings, Prayers, and Benedictions

In my seeking of how to pray for and encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ (Note, many great lessons about prayer are also found in the Psalms, these are just a few selection from the letters of Paul and John):

Philippians 1

³ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. […] ⁹ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

• I kept verses 3-5 in there because of the importance of thanking God for having fellow believers who are also pursuing Christ and spreading the gospel. And if we don’t, then you need to start praying for your friends. Verse 9 is so important! Love is so crucial, so so crucial. I hope we never forget that, but what we need to also seek is knowledge and discernment. And why? so that we may be pure for Christ and to be filled with fruit (including: love, joy, peace…, and also: good deeds and the like) that only comes from Christ. But it cannot be forgotten that this is all for God’s glory. “The ultimate end of man is to glorify God”

Colossians 4

² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

• We are to pray steadfastly, all the time. Not just for meals where we say thanks, but to prayer continually for everything (In addition, 1 Thes 3:10 talks about praying night and day). I should be praying, and asking others to pray, that God opens doors for the spreading of the gospel, and that I be speaking clearly so that people understand.

1 Thesallonians 5 - Benediction 

²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

• Let’s continue to pray that God sanctifies us, so we can work towards being pure for Christ. Encourage each other to be mindful of this pursuit of purity and integrity.

Philemon

 ⁶ and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

• Again, praying that our words are effective so that people are brought to Christ.

3 John

² Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. ³ For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

• We need to still be concerned about the health and wellbeing of others (as can be summed up in the wishing of “Shalom”), but with given respect to the importance of our soul’s health, that is measured by our walk in the truth.