Pray Continually with Purpose

Prayer is something we should be doing a lot of, Paul told the Thessalonians to "pray continually".(1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Paul was praying for the church "constantly": "[we] pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."(2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) The Apostle's prayers for the church were purposeful in nature, so that is how our prayers should be. If a friend has a ministry, pray for them. Pray that the Lord blesses your ministries, He desires to help you bear spiritual fruit.

We need to pray, making requests with the right motives. James said: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."(James 4:3) One man prays, asking the Lord to empower him to "fulfill every good purpose". Another prays, asking the Lord to fill his bank account. But would a man blessed with a million dollars turn around and give it all to the poor?

We need to ask others to pray for us. Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray for him so "that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored". He also made a prayer request for protection from "wicked and evil men" because the early church was experiencing much persecution.(2 Thess 3:1-2) We also need to pray for protection from our real enemy - "the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."(Ephesians 6:12) When we are performing good works for the Lord, we are crossing enemy lines, so we need His protection.

1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2; James 4:3; Ephesians 6:12