Praying With Paul

[nChrist]

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

Enemies into Friends

Passage

1 Timothy 1:16-17

Prayer

Dear Father, king of the ages, Thank you for the cleansing of our sins through Christ. Thank you that you take people who are in outright opposition to your will, as was Saul of Tarsus, and hundreds since him, and bring them up short, rebuke their disobedience, and then enlist them in your own army. Praise you, God, for making friends of your former enemies. All glory to you for the demonstration of patience made perfect. Now to you, King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be glory and honor for ever and ever. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Fit for Service

Passage

1 Timothy 1:12-15

Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for the strength that you give us to minister to others. We bless you for judging us faithful and for committing talents to us by which we may help others. In spite of our offenses against you, you show great mercy in overlooking our ignorance and unbelief and by now giving us opportunities and encouragement to serve you. You have made the graciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ overflow to us in the faith and the love that are available in him. How sure and worthy of full acceptance is the truth that our Lord Jesus came into the world to save sinners. We were sinners! Thank you for the salvation that you wrought for us through him, in whose name I now pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Faith and Good Conscience

Passage

1 Timothy 1:3-11, 18-20

Prayer

Dear Father, Keep us from believing any teaching different from that which your genuine apostles taught about our Lord Jesus Christ. Let what they aimed for arise in our hearts: love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Don't let us take a legalistic approach to our life under you. By the law we can see what not to do, by Jesus we see a real direction for our lives. Let us live by him and for him. Help us wage a good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Work and Discipline

Passage

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Prayer

Dear Father, God who worked to create all things, Guide us and empower us to do our work in quietness, to avoid idleness, and to earn our own living. Help us not to grow weary in well-doing. Help us to follow the example of your emissaries, of Paul and the others, who did not seize some economic advantage from their positions, but worked to provide for their own needs. Help us to encourage and enforce a good work ethic among Christians so that we may be highly regarded among all people. Help us to be disciplined among ourselves, to exhort and warn each other, but also to be kind and loving and to treat each other as beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Prayer and Good Deeds

Passage

1 Timothy 2:8-14

Prayer

Dear Father, Let the men of your church pray constantly to you, lifting holy hands without quarreling. May your women adorn themselves modestly and sensibly and clothe themselves in good deeds, as befits women who profess religion. Actually Lord, may both sexes do both of these. Let prayer and good deeds adorn us and fill our lives. May men and women who are called to follow you relate to each other in perfect submission both to you and to each other. In the name of Jesus Christ, the one Mediator between God and man, who gave his life for us, I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Caring Hearts, Working Hands

Passage

1 Timothy 5:1-22

Prayer

Dear Father, Help me treat everyone in your family appropriately and with great respect: older men like fathers, older women like mothers, younger men as brothers, younger women as sisters. Give us such caring hearts in our immediate families that we will take care of widows, orphans, the sick, and the troubled. Give us such caring hearts in your church that we shall supply whatever is lacking in families. Let us give honor to our elders appropriate to their work, whether respect or material support. In the name of Jesus we ask. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Setting a Good Example

Passage

1 Timothy 4:11-16

Prayer

Dear Father, May we never lessen our commitment to you because someone criticizes us. Instead, let us set an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Encourage us to busy ourselves with the reading of Scripture, with preaching and teaching. Help us not to neglect whatever gifts we have from you. Help us use every resource you have given us to serve fruitfully in your kingdom, that we may be saved and that others may come to a saving relationship with your Son Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

The Value of Godliness

Passage

1 Timothy 4:6-10

Prayer

Dear Father, Make us diligent athletes who exercise our spiritual bodies, recognizing that while physical exercise has some profit, godliness is of value in every way, because it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. We have set the hope of our hearts upon you, our Father, the living God, the Savior of all men, most especially of us who have put our trust in you. We do believe in you. Please use our hope and faith as a springboard to our diligent efforts for your kingdom. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Faith and Freedom

Passage

1 Timothy 4:1-4; 5:24

Prayer

Dear Father, Keep us from paying attention to seducing spirits or doctrines of demons. Don't let the pretensions of those whose consciences are seared invade our lives. Let us hold that marriage is honorable and not to be forbidden. Let us be free to eat all the foods which you have created as good. Give us thankful hearts for what you have provided, and may we consecrate what we eat by giving thanks. Keep from joining into the sins of others, whether those that are present and conspicuous or those that are hidden and will appear later. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

The Central Mystery

Passage

1 Timothy 3:14-16

Prayer

Dear Father, Give us a graciousness by which we shall know how to behave ourselves in your household, the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Help us so dedicate ourselves individually to the truth that the church at large will be a bastion of truth, and will be known by the world to be what it claims to be. Keep our focus of truth always on that central mystery of our religion: That Christ was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory! Nourish us on words of faith and good doctrine. Guide our minds to stay away from silly and godless myths. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Leadership Qualities

Passage

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Prayer

Dear Father, Give in whatever measure you please the qualities of elders and deacons to all your people, even to me. Help me desire tasks that are a noble work to you. Help me to live above reproach, to be proper in my family relations, to be temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, sober, and gentle. Help me manage my affairs properly and command the respect of my family and outsiders. Help me serve you well in whatever capacity you allot, that I may gain a good standing and great confidence in my faith in Christ. Keep me from becoming puffed up or conceited. Don't let me fall into the condemnation of the devil. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Prayer and Good Deeds

Passage

1 Timothy 2:8-14

Prayer

Dear Father, Let the men of your church pray constantly to you, lifting holy hands without quarreling. May your women adorn themselves modestly and sensibly and clothe themselves in good deeds, as befits women who profess religion. Actually Lord, may both sexes do both of these. Let prayer and good deeds adorn us and fill our lives. May men and women who are called to follow you relate to each other in perfect submission both to you and to each other. In the name of Jesus Christ, the one Mediator between God and man, who gave his life for us, I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Entrusted with Truth

Passage

2 Timothy 1:9-14

Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you that Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to life through the Good News. Help us be true to this message, to teach it and preach it. Help us follow the pattern of sound words which have been given us in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Grant that we may guard the truth you have entrusted to us by the Holy Spirit which you have caused to dwell within us. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

Empowered to Serve

Passage

2 Timothy 1:3-10

Prayer

Dear Father, seer of my inmost thoughts, Give me a clear conscience in my service to you. Then fill my mouth with prayers to you as I intercede for those I love. Let my contacts with them be sources of great joy for all of us. Let the sincere faith of our mothers and fathers and other relatives take root in us and grow. Whatever gift you have given me, help me rekindle it every day and fan it into a flame of service and love for you. Help me live boldly for you, for you did not give me a spirit of timidity but a spirit of love and power and inward strength. Don't let me ever be ashamed of bearing witness about our Lord. Let me take my share of suffering for the gospel and rely on your power. In the name and power of Jesus I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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

The Good Fight of Faith

Passage

1 Timothy 6:20-21, 11-16

Prayer

Dear Father, invisible and immortal God, Guard me that I may guard what you have entrusted to me. Help me to avoid the godless talk and vain reasonings of "knowledge," (which is not real knowledge) lest I miss the mark as regards the faith. Give me the courage and strength to flee from all wickedness and to pursue instead righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Help me fight the good fight of faith. In the name of Jesus and to your glory I lift up this prayer. Amen.