Praying With Paul

[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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A Pure Mind

Passage

Titus 1:15-16

Prayer

Dear Father, Let me have a pure mind, so that all things may be pure to me. For to the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Their minds and consciences are corrupted, and professing to know you, they deny you by their deeds. They are detestable and disobedient, unfit for any good deed. O God, I want to flee from all such behavior and be yours alone. Guide my mind and keep my heart and move my body! Give me salvation, sincerity, and selflessness. In the holy name of Christ Jesus I ask it. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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Only Out of Love

Passage

Titus 1:11-14

Prayer

Dear Father, Help me never to teach or serve in your kingdom for selfish gain. May I live and do good out of pure love for you. Help me to stay away from stupid myths, concocted by human imagination, and follow only the truth that comes from you. Help me to be frugal in my approach to life. Save me from overindulgence of every kind. In the holy name of Christ Jesus I ask it. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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Furthering the Faith

Passage

Titus 1:1-9

Prayer

Dear Father, the God who never lies, Grant that my life will further the faith of your chosen people and increase their knowledge of the truth that accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which you promised ages ago and at the proper time manifested through the preaching of your word. May the leaders of your people be blameless, good stewards of the responsibility which you give them. May they hold firmly to your sure word as taught by your apostles. May they love and demonstrate everything that is good, and by word and deed refute the advocates of evil. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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An Everlasting Kingdom

Passage

2 Timothy 4:9-22

Prayer

Dear Father, Help me not to be in love with this present world. Enable me to live for the sake of your everlasting kingdom. Help me come to the defense of those who are attacked wrongly or who need defending for your sake. Stand by us, dear God, and give us the strength to live for you and to proclaim your word fully, as it deserves. Rescue us from the lion's mouth. Rescue us from every evil and save us for your heavenly kingdom. Be with our spirits. Grant abundant grace to us in every way. To you be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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Fighting the Good Fight

Passage

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Prayer

Dear Father, warrior against evil, Help me to fight the good fight. Help me to finish the race. Help me to keep the faith, so that I will receive the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who have loved his appearing. Teach my arms to war. Teach my legs to run. Teach my lungs to pump air. Let me be a furious and fast warrior in your army of faith. Let me be absolutely immovable in the trust I have in you. Give me an overwhelming love for you and everything you stand for. I love you, Father. I love Jesus and the Spirit. I love your kingdom and all your people. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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The Finished Race

Passage

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Prayer

Dear Father, source of our strength, Be with every disciple, especially with your preachers. May they be urgent in season and out of season. Empower them to convince, rebuke, and exhort. Help them to be unfailing in patience and persistent teaching. Guide them all to be steady, to endure suffering, to do the work of evangelization, and to fulfil the ministries you have given them. Let them all, and all of your people, so live that we can say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Thank you for the gracious reward you have in store for us all - that crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to every one who has loved and longed for his appearing. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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Equipped for Good Work

Passage

2 Timothy 3:10-17

Prayer

Dear Father, Help me adhere to right teaching, proper conduct, the right aim in life and faith. Help me hold on patience, love, and steadfastness, even when I am opposed and persecuted for doing so. When evil people and impostors go from bad to worse, keep me from giving up in the face of their persecution and opposition. May I continue in what I have learned and firmly believe, knowing that your Word is able to instruct me for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Thank you for these writings - breathed by your holy breath - which are good for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, that I may be complete and equipped for every good work. Father, complete your work in me, may I be ready to do your work in the world! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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The Preeminence of Christ

Passage

Hebrews 1:1-14

Prayer

Dear Father, father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thank you for speaking through the prophets of old, bit by bit, in first one way, then another. Help me not to be slow of heart but to believe all they have said. Thank you most of all for speaking to us through your Son. You made him heir of all things and through him you created the world. We give glory to you because this one who shines forth with your glory and bears the very stamp of your nature. He upholds the world by his power. Thank you for him, this one who is our Savior, the one who purifies us from our sins. Thank you for exalting him high above all angels, for giving him a name more excellent than theirs, and for causing him to sit on your right hand in your majestic splendor. Our wonderful Lord wields a scepter of righteousness! His throne is for ever and ever. Thank you for this changeless and faithful Savior of ours! Thank you! In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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An Heir of Hope

Passage

Titus 3:4-15

Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you that your goodness and loving kindness have appeared. Thank you for saving me, not because of my righteous deeds, but in virtue of your own mercy, totally undeserved, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. You richly poured it out on me through Jesus Christ, my Savior. Thank you for doing all this so that I might be justified by your grace and become an heir in hope of eternal life! Thank you that I can be sure of all these things, because you said so. Help me apply myself to good deeds, which are excellent and profitable to me. Teach me to avoid stupid arguments that are unprofitable and futile. Help me to be all that you want me to be! May your grace continue with me and with all whose love arises in faith. In the name of Jesus, the all-wise and blessed Savior. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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The Wisdom of Respect

Passage

Titus 3:1-3

Prayer

Dear Father, Help me to have respect for rulers and authorities, to be submissive and obedient. Help me to be ready for any honest work, and to speak evil of no one. Help me to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy to every one. Help me not to be foolish, disobedient, or led astray. Help me not to be a slave to various passions and pleasures, or to pass my days in malice or envy, hating others or being hated by them. In the name of Jesus, the all-wise and blessed Savior. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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Renouncing Worldliness

Passage

Titus 2:4-14

Prayer

Dear Father, Help me to be submissive to others' needs, to give them satisfaction, to show entire and true fidelity, so that in everything I may adorn your teaching, my God and Savior, my Teacher. I want to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live a sober, upright and godly life in this world. I want to wait for (and hasten!) the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good works. Please purify me, even as Christ is pure, through the blessed hope of his ultimate and world-wide, and yet personal, redemption.In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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A Model of Good Deeds

Passage

Titus 2:1-8

Prayer

Dear Father, whose word is sound doctrine, Let me teach by word and example what conforms to the sound doctrine of your word. Help me to be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Let me show myself in all respects to be a model of good deeds, and in my teaching and example to show integrity, gravity, and sound expression that cannot be criticized, so that any one who opposes your teaching may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of me. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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Better Things

Passage

Hebrews 5:11-6:4, 9-12

Prayer

Dear Father, I am eager to be a good learner. I want to get beyond needing milk meant for babies. I want to digest the solid food of your word. I want to be skilled in righteousness, able to distinguish good from evil. Let me move past the elementary teachings of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance. Help me to lay hold of those "better things" that belong to salvation. Thank you, God, for remembering the work and love that I render for your sake in serving your holy people. May I realize the assurance of hope right to the end, so that I may not be sluggish, but may imitate those who through faith and patience inherit your promises. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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Risen with Christ

Passage

Hebrews 5:7-10

Prayer

Dear Father, Eternal God, Thank you for a high priestly Savior, who in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to you who were able to save him from death. Thank you that you heard him for his godly fear, but that you answered him by raising him from death, rather than saving him from dying. Otherwise we would have had no sacrifice for our sins.Thank you for Jesus' sacrificial death. Thank you for his resurrection, which has been passed on to us through him. For we too have died and been raised through the great love with which you loved us! Thank you, Father, thank you, thank you! We cannot thank you enough! There are not enough words, not even time, not enough breath, not enough strength, to say what we owe you for your great salvation! In the name of Jesus, our High Priest, I pray. Amen.
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[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
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Our Great High Priest

Passage

Hebrews 4:14-5:6

Prayer

Dear Father, Eternal God, Enable us to hold fast to our confession of Jesus as our great High Priest. We adore him, for even though he passed through the heavens to enter your sanctuary, he is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, because in flesh like ours he was tempted just as we are. But unlike us, he bore up under it without sinning. Through his victory, enable us to draw near to your throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our times of need so that we can have victory ourselves. How thankful we are for our High Priest, who did not take the honor upon himself. You yourself called him and appointed him to act on our behalf in relating to you. And he offered himself as a gift and sacrifice for our sins. In the name of Jesus, our High Priest, I ask. Amen.
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