can we pray for you
Have you ever prayed a prayer and not known it? So many of us start our prayers in a somewhat traditional way by saying something like “Dear Lord, I need your help…” or “God, please help me with…” or “Father, I don’t know what to do about…” But what about prayers that we don’t really phrase as a prayer, like a request or a wish, or a thought that passes through our mind during the day. I always catch myself saying “I wish could…” or “If I could only…” or “I’d really like to…” Do you do the same? In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians it looks like he prayed a prayer without really phrasing it as such. We read in II Thessalonians 3:5 “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (RSV) That verse alone may sound like a prayer, but when you read it in context as it follows the first 4 verses of chapter 3, it really doesn’t. Paul starts off by requesting prayer, and then finishes with a kind of “hope” for his fellow believers. Here are the first 5 verses of II Thessalonians 3. See what you think.
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (RSV) Paul’s desire (or prayer) was that the direction of their hearts would be toward the love of God. There’s nothing more important in a Christian’s life than their hearts direction and devotion. I remember back in the early 60’s (I can say that now because I’m getting a bit older) when the
pastor would stand in the back of the church at the end of the service, hold both of his hands up over his head, and say a blessing for or pray over the congregation just prior to being dismissed. I always felt that was special as a kid because I believed I was leaving with an extra layer of protection over my life. One day a couple of weeks ago as I was having my quiet time I came across this verse (II Thes 3:5) on a card and thought to myself how special that would be to recite this verse over a group of people as a blessing, a statement of hope or word of encouragement. I know it’s not a prayer, or at least it isn’t phrased like a prayer, but it is my desire for you, those of you reading this article right now, that the Lord would direct your hearts in a way that you would be in touch with the love of the Lord, and that this love would remain persist and loyal toward God, similar to the love Christ had for His Father while He was here on earth. Wouldn’t you all agree that we need another layer of protection these days as we go out into a cruel and ruthless world? Knowing this tradition (mentioned above) is practiced in only limited form anymore, my desire is to send you away at the end of this article with a reminder of what Paul had hoped for when he wrote his letter to the Thessalonians. If you feel led, please pray this prayer (a kind of first person paraphrase of II Thes 3:5) as you finish this article, and anytime you wish to throughout the day, believing in your heart that the Lord will direct you according to His will: “Father God, enable me to have the type of love in my heart for others that you have toward me, and that I may consistently display an attitude pleasing to you, in Jesus name, Amen.”
Blessings, Scott
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (RSV) Paul’s desire (or prayer) was that the direction of their hearts would be toward the love of God. There’s nothing more important in a Christian’s life than their hearts direction and devotion. I remember back in the early 60’s (I can say that now because I’m getting a bit older) when the
pastor would stand in the back of the church at the end of the service, hold both of his hands up over his head, and say a blessing for or pray over the congregation just prior to being dismissed. I always felt that was special as a kid because I believed I was leaving with an extra layer of protection over my life. One day a couple of weeks ago as I was having my quiet time I came across this verse (II Thes 3:5) on a card and thought to myself how special that would be to recite this verse over a group of people as a blessing, a statement of hope or word of encouragement. I know it’s not a prayer, or at least it isn’t phrased like a prayer, but it is my desire for you, those of you reading this article right now, that the Lord would direct your hearts in a way that you would be in touch with the love of the Lord, and that this love would remain persist and loyal toward God, similar to the love Christ had for His Father while He was here on earth. Wouldn’t you all agree that we need another layer of protection these days as we go out into a cruel and ruthless world? Knowing this tradition (mentioned above) is practiced in only limited form anymore, my desire is to send you away at the end of this article with a reminder of what Paul had hoped for when he wrote his letter to the Thessalonians. If you feel led, please pray this prayer (a kind of first person paraphrase of II Thes 3:5) as you finish this article, and anytime you wish to throughout the day, believing in your heart that the Lord will direct you according to His will: “Father God, enable me to have the type of love in my heart for others that you have toward me, and that I may consistently display an attitude pleasing to you, in Jesus name, Amen.”
Blessings, Scott
