Praying With Paul

[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Spiritual Discernment

Passage

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

Prayer

Dear Father, who gives us the mind of Christ, The natural person cannot understand us or you, or what you are doing in us, for these things are spiritually discerned, and he cannot receive your gifts. Natural people cannot judge us, but you enable us to judge everything. "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we understand, for you have given us the very mind of Christ! How wonderful it is! How great and merciful you are to give us this precious gift! I love you, Lord. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. In the name of Jesus I give you thanks for the supernatural wisdom you have bestowed on us by reason of our faith. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Spiritual Wisdom

Passage

1 Corinthians 2:13

Prayer

Dear Father, giver of your wisdom, You have graciously imparted your wisdom to us. Thank you. You taught us not by words but by your Spirit, who interprets spiritual truths for those of us who believe. Only to those who live out your wisdom of the cross, who know the sweetness of true dedication to you, do you give understanding. Thank you for being our God, for giving us Jesus, for granting your Spirit to us, and for making us understand your purpose for our lives! In the name of Jesus I give you thanks for the supernatural wisdom you have bestowed on us by reason of our faith. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Slave to All

Passage

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Prayer

Dear Father, lover of all peoples, Though I am free from all men, let me become a slave to all, that I may win many, many more people to the cause of the Lord. To Jews help me become as a Jew, to non-Jews as a non-Jew, to the poor as one who is poor, to the weak as one who is weak, that I might by all means save some of them. Help me to gladly do whatever is needful for the sake of the Good News, so that I may share in its blessings. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Foregoing Rights

Passage

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

Prayer

Dear Father, who sees my heart, Help me to follow the excellent example of the Apostle Paul. Though he had a right to earn his livelihood from his preaching, he didn't do so. He chose not to make full use of his rights in the gospel and instead preached the message free of charge. Grant that my service to you will not be motivated by monetary gain or personal ambition. Whatever I do, let it be done out of love for you, your Son, your Word and your holy people. Help me never to put any obstacle in the way of the proclamation of the Good News about Jesus Christ to all who need to hear. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

False Gods

Passage

1 Corinthians 8:7-13

Prayer

Dear Father, the one real and only God, Many do not understand that all reality is rooted in you, so they chase the "gods" of this world, the "idols" which they worship - money, fame, glamor, power, security - and in some cases real idols and the real demons who are behind those idols. Many brothers and sisters in Christ have recently been freed from bondage to a culture that worships these false gods, and due to their weak consciences they can easily be drawn back. Keep me from pursuing the things they were in the habit of pursuing, lest they think I am serving their old "gods" and that it is okay for them to violate their consciences and return to former practices. Don't let my "knowledge" destroy someone who is weak. May I be willing to forego any right or privilege rather than cause a brother or sister to fall. In the name of Jesus and by his authority I ask these things according to his will. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Love above Knowledge

Passage

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Prayer

Dear Father, the one real and only God, Give me more love and humility than knowledge, for "Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. "People know lots of things, but they let it go to their heads. Help me, Father, never to imagine that I know everything, because I know that I do not yet know as I ought to know. What I want is to love you as I should, for if I love you, then I am loved and known by you. All the things that men and women pursue, O God, seem to have no real existence when compared to you. There is no God but you, the one God. The world is full of "gods." But for us Christians there is just one God, you, from whom all things come and for whom they exist, and there is just one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. In the name of Jesus and by his authority I ask these things according to his will. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Earthly Relationships

Passage

1 Corinthians 7:36-40

Prayer

Dear Father, head of our one enduring spiritual family, We live in our bodies and in families and we have strong needs for these very human things. Thank you for consenting to our involvement with these, as long as we possess them without grasping or coveting, and as long as we love you more than these. Whatever freedoms we have, let us exercise them by abiding in the Lord. Grant us the grace to follow Paul's teaching, since he spoke as one having the Spirit of the Lord. In the name of Jesus I lift this prayer to you. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Contentment

Passage

1 Corinthians 7:25-35

Prayer

Dear Father, head of our one enduring spiritual family, Thank you that you have not left us uninformed in matters of family relations. Thank you for the apostle Paul's instructions, which tell us to be holy in body and spirit and to give ourselves up to please you. Help me, Father, to do that. May we be content in the situations in which you have placed us. May those of us with spouses live, in a sense, as if we had none. May those of us who mourn over lost loved ones, in a sense, not mourn at all. May those of us who rejoice, in a sense, not be so joyful. May those of us who buy and sell, in a sense, act as if we have no goods. May those of us who deal with the world, in a sense, act as if we have no dealings with the world at all. What does it all mean? This world and the form of it are passing away, so free me from all anxiety! There is no answer apart from knowing that you are in control and will bring to pass your good pleasure. Grant us rest in you! In the name of Jesus I lift up this prayer to you. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Husbands and Wives

Passage

1 Corinthians 7:10-24

Prayer

Dear Father, lover of families, May my spouse and I both strive to satisfy the spiritual, mental, economic, emotional, and physical needs of the other so neither of us will ever be tempted to look to someone else for companionship. Help us both to exercise perfect self-control, never giving Satan any opportunity to deceive us. Father, grant that there may never be any rupture in our marriage relationship that would lead to quarreling, unfaithfulness, separation, or divorce. While one cannot take ultimate responsibility for the salvation of the other, help each of us to live for you before the other, building each other up. Because marriage is honorable in your eyes, help us to lead the life before you which you have assigned us in marriage. Thank you for calling us to peace, peace with each other and with you. In the state we are in, let us remain there with you, living joyfully in the keeping of your commandments. In the name of Jesus and by his authority I ask. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

My Body an Instrument

Passage

1 Corinthians 6:14-20

Prayer

Dear Father, powerful and holy God, This body of mine is not just temporary, meant for the decay of the grave. You have promised to redeem it, to make it glorious like Christ's. It will be my instrument to glorify you throughout eternity. Let me use it with that thought in mind. Surely you, God, who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead by your power, will also raise my body by your power. Make me ever aware that my body is a member of Christ's body. Shall I take the members of Christ's body and join it with a prostitute? Never! How can I become one body with someone who is evil when I am one spirit with the Lord? Help me to shun immorality, which, unlike other sin, is against my own body. I consecrate my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, which I have received from you. Help me to know that I am not my own but that I am bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus, and so let me glorify you in my body. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

My Body a Temple

Passage

1 Corinthians 6:12-13

Prayer

Dear Father, powerful and holy God, Help me to understand that even though all things may be lawful for me, all things are not helpful. Keep me from being enslaved by anything. You gave us stomachs for processing food and drink, and you gave us sexuality for procreation and intimacy, but you did not mean our bodies to be used for gluttony, drunkenness, or immorality! Remind me every day, Lord, that my body is for you, and that you, Lord, are for my body! In the name of Jesus. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Conciliation

Passage

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Prayer

Dear Father, eternal and just judge of all, Help me never to shame you or your saints before the world. How could I dare seek arbitration with a brother before a judge who does not even know about Christ's way? If believers are someday to judge the world, and even angels, surely we can settle matters between ourselves. Help me, Father, to willingly suffer wrong rather than to quarrel with members of your family before the world and thereby invite their ridicule. Don't permit us to be deceived, but to know that the immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, greedy, drunkards, revilers, and robbers will not inherit your kingdom. Yes, Father, we were these kinds of people before we came to know your salvation. But you washed us, sanctified us, justified us in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in your very own Spirit. Thank you, loving Father, for reaching out to us, changing us, saving us! In the name of Jesus, by whose blood we are washed clean and by whose Spirit we are made to live, I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Discipline in Love

Passage

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

Prayer

Dear Father, lover of righteousness and purity, Give us determination to keep your command not to associate with the immoral - not at all meaning the immoral of the world, the greedy and robbers, the idolaters, for then we would have to go out of the world - but not to associate with one who bears the name of a brother if that one is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, a reviler, a drunkard or robber - not even to eat with such a person. You have called us to judge those inside the church, not outside of it. You, our God, judge those on the outside. May we keep your command to "Drive out the wicked person from among us," but not "quench a smoldering wick" or "break a bruised reed." May we oppose only those who willfully persist in their humiliation of you, your gospel, and your church, and even then may we do it only for the salvation and good of all. In the name of Jesus I ask for wisdom in matters of discipline and for the loving spirit of the Savior himself. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Discipline in Truth

Passage

1 Corinthians 5:1-8

Prayer

Dear Father, who disciplines us for our own good, Save your church from the sexual perversions that are taking place in our society. Let us show your love to sinners and show them how to receive forgiveness. But may we also say, as Jesus said, "Sin no more!" Help us to exercise discipline, even to the removal of unrepentant members, delivering them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that their spirits may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Help us not to cover up sin and then boast about our tolerance! For a little yeast can ferment a whole lump of dough! Help us remove the leaven of sin, so that our churches may be like pure unleavened bread. Since Christ, our passover lamb, has been sacrificed, let us celebrate the festival, not with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. In the name of Jesus I ask for wisdom in matters of discipline and for the loving spirit of the Savior himself. Amen.

[nChrist]

________________________________
Praying With Paul
by Eldon Degge
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
________________________________

Christ's Admonition

Passage

1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Prayer

Dear Father, king of the ages, I am proud to be your child, and I want to listen carefully to your admonition. Help me to listen to you through the words of my spiritual fathers in the faith, your apostles. May I imitate them! Remind me of their ways in Christ. From them and through them may I learn that the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. Come to me, Lord, to chasten me and change me. But please show your love in a spirit of gentleness, rather than with the fierce rod of your anger. I renounce all egotistical thinking and all arrogant talk. I turn my heart and mind toward you and submit my life! You, Father, are my God, my Lord, my Savior! You are worthy of all my love and obedience. In the name of Jesus I submit to your authority and ask your blessings to continue forever. Amen.