Salvation Summaries

Do you ever feel awkward when you pray in front of others and do not know what you should pray about?  If you have, then this post should give you a few ideas on what to say.

In my review of Paul’s prayers in Ephesians and his first one in Philippians, I noted that he prayed primarily for spiritual things (that God may give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him better, that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith, etc.).  However, after reading Philippians 4:6-7, I realized that we can pray for anything and everything.  I then re-read Paul’s letters in Ephesians and Philippians to see what he focused on, and it was how they were to live as Christians.

I made a list of about everything Paul said that we should do and should not do (as Christians), and then organized these into three groups.  I plan to continue to add to the lists as I review other books of the Bible.  In the meantime, if you would like ideas on what to pray for – either for yourself or others – please consult the lists below.

Christian Life; positive; for self or others

• adopt the same attitude as that of Jesus, who was humble and obedient (Phil 2:5-8)
• advance the gospel
• comprehend the length, width, height and depth of God’s love, and that they may know Christ’s love, which is more valuable than knowledge
• contend together for the faith of the gospel
• conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel (Phil 1:22)
• discern what is best
• dwell on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, morally excellent and praiseworthy
• that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith
• be filled with the fruit of righteousness (love, joy, peace, etc.).
• be filled with the Spirit
• find out what pleases the Lord (Eph 5:10)
• forgive others just as Christ forgave us
• give (always) thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of Jesus Christ
• be gracious to everyone
• be humble and gentle (Eph 4:2)
• be kind and compassionate to others
• live as children of light, which consists of goodness, righteousness and truth (Eph 5:8)
• live a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Eph 4:1)
• be patient, bearing with one another in love (Eph 4:2)
• pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Eph 6:18)
• in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God (Phil 4:6)
• be pure and blameless
• put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:22-24)
• rejoice in the Lord (Phil 4:4)
• say only that which is helpful for building other up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
• speak the word more courageously
• submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph 5:21)
• think about whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy (Phil 4:8)
• understand what the Lord’s will is (Eph 5:17)
• be united with other believers in one spirit
• work out salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12)

Christian life; negative; for self or others

• not be anxious about anything (Phil 4:6)
• get rid of all bitterness, range and anger
• not complain or argue (Phil 2:14)
• not get drunk on wine
• not grumble or argue with others
• not be intimidated by opponents of our faith
• not live as the Gentiles do…to sensuality and every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more (Eph 4:17-19)
• not be selfish or conceited but to consider others more important than you
• no hint of sexual immorality (Eph 5:3)
• not sin from being angry
• no unwholesome talk
• not worry about anything

For others

• the eyes of their heart may be enlightened in order that they may know the hope to which He has called them (Eph 1:18)
• thank God for their faith
• know God better
• to know Jesus Christ the Lord
• know the power of God that is available to them, and that God would strengthen them with power
• their love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so they are able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless (Phil 1:9-10)
• God’s mercy on someone who is ill and maybe near death
• God would give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they would know Him better (Eph 1:17)