praying effectively: Be Sincere and Blameless (Phil.1:4-11)

(Philippians 1:4-11)  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that our love may abound more and more (1:9)

- that our love may abound in real knowledge of God and His will (1:9)

- that our love may abound in discernment, knowing how to appropriately apply God's will (1:9)

- that we are able to agree with and live out the things that are excellent (1:10) 

- that  we strive to be sincere in our walk with God, and with everything we say and do (1:10)

- that we strive towards living a holy and righteous life (1:10)

- that everything we do and say is to the glory and praise of God (1:11)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your word and for Your guidance.  Guide us and help us to grow in the knowledge of You and Your will.  Give us the desire to continue maturing in our walk with You.

Thank You for Your love.  Guide us and help us to grow in Your love.  Give us wisdom in knowing how to appropriately apply Your love.  Continue working on us, changing us from the inside out, so that we will live in Your righteousness, in all sincerity, all to Your glory and praise.  Amen.

praying effectively: Be Strong in the Lord (Eph.6:10-20)

(Ephesians 6:10-20)  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we put on the full armor of God to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (6:11)

- that we have salvation (6:17)

- that we read, know and use the Bible (6:17)

- that we build up our faith (6:16)

- that we are strong in the Lord and rely on His power (6:10-13)

- that we remain steadfast, standing firm in God's truth (6:14)

- that we practice righteousness (6:14)

- that we are living out and are always ready to share the gospel of peace (6:15)

- that we pray for the Lord to give us the words in order to share the gospel with boldness (6:19-20)

- that we are always praying in the Spirit, praying in God's will (6:18)

- that we are on the alert to continuously pray for all believers (6:18)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for saving us from sin, and for protecting us from darkness.  Help us do as we should in order to remain steadfast in Your peace, strength and truth.  Remind us to ask for Your guidance and strength in everything we do.  Give us the desire to know You and Your word better, in order to increase our faith in You.  

Help all Your children to realize that You are not a religion of do's and don'ts, but that You want us to have a close relationship with You.  You want us to rely on You for everything, giving You the honor and glory, not just on Sunday mornings, but all of the time.  Wherever we go, help us to be ready to share the good news as You give us opportunities.  Give us the courage, and the right words to say.  Guide us with humble hearts, so that we remain living out Your will, always in Your almighty power.  Amen.

praying effectively: Respect People at Work (Eph.6:5-9)

(Ephesians 6:5-9)  Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. 

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we sincerely respect our bosses and supervisors, etc., obeying them as long as it does not go against God's will (6:5)

- that in our jobs we should work diligently and obediently, realizing that God is ultimately our boss and supervisor, so consider ourselves employees of God (6:5-8)

- that if you are a manager or supervisor, etc. over anybody, treat them with respect, realizing that God sees all people as equals (6:9)

- that if you are a manager or supervisor, etc. you should work diligently and obediently, realizing that God is ultimately your boss and supervisor, so consider yourselves employees of God (6:9)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that You are fair and just, and expect the same things from all people.  And if there are any "higher" expectations, it is for those who have more power and higher positions.  Help us to see all people as people whom You love.  Help us to love and respect all people.  And help us to realize that we are ultimately doing everything for You.  How we do our jobs at work will determine what kind of testimony we have to those around us. 

If and when an issue arises, help us to trust in Your will and Your guidance to reconcile things.  And if we are ever expected to do anything dishonorable, give us the courage to respectfully refuse.  May we trust in You to look out for us.  If such situations cannot be reconciled, and we have to leave a job because of that, You will honor those decisions and guide us to better jobs. 

May we look to You and go to You for every situation.  Thank You for being such a loving God who meets and fills all of our needs.  Amen.

praying effectively: Respect Parents and Children (Eph.6:1-4)

(Ephesians 6:1-4)  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that unless they want you to do something that is not God's will, children should obey their parents in the Lord (6:1)

- that we honor our parents (6:2-3)

- that we do not provoke our children to anger (6:4)

- that we bring our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (6:4) 

Today's prayer:

 

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being our example of a perfect parent.  Help us to strive towards being like You when we are raising our children.  Give us wisdom in knowing how and when to discipline them.  Help us use each opportunity as a teaching moment, without exasperating them.  And when they become adults, give us wisdom to know when and how to advise them.  

All the while, help us as parents remain loving and patient.  Help us know how much space we should give them, and when and how we should allow them to make their own decisions and mistakes.  Guide us in being good examples of how we should keep looking to You and trusting in Your for everything.  So when we as parents do something wrong, help us to be humble enough to apologize to our children.

Help us to submit to our parents!  Help us realize that our parents want the best for us, and want to protect us.  As parents get older, give us wisdom and understanding, so we will continue to treat them with respect, all with Your patience, love and grace.  Amen.

praying effectively: Love Your Spouse (Eph.5:21-33)

(Ephesians 5:21-33)  be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. 

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that a husband should leave his parents and be joined to his wife (singular) (5:31)

- that a husband and wife should live in unity, as a team, because the two have become one flesh (5:31-32)

- that a husband should nourish, cherish and love his own wife as he loves himself, just as Christ takes care of the Church (5:28-30, 33)

- that a husband should love his own wife with a sacrificial love, just as Christ loved the Church (5:25-27)

- that unless he wants you to do something that is not God's will, a wife should be submissive, be subject to, dependent upon, respect her own husband, as to the Lord (5:22-24, 33)

- that unless you are asked or expected to do something that is not in God's will, all believers should be submissive, be subject to, be dependent upon, respect EACH OTHER, in the fear of the Lord!  (just a reminder, so no one thinks any of these commands are unfair) (5:21)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us insight into the love-language of couples!  You wrote the original book on this!  Help husbands to love and care for their wives.  Help wives to respect and support their husbands.  Guide us in building stronger marriages!  Protect our marriages!  

You created us, and You know us better than we know ourselves.  You know what works!  Help us trust in Your wisdom.  Help us understand and remember that within our equality, there is a "hierarchy" which is so different from anything the world offers.  

Help us remember that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  Help us remember that we need to treat others the way we want to be treated.  Help us remember to consider others more important than ourselves.  Help us remember that to be master, we must become servant, and even a slave, without expecting anything in return!  Just as You - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords - humbled Yourself when You came to earth to serve and to be the sacrifice for all our sins!!!  Help us to be more like You in everything we do and say.  Amen.

praying effectively: Walk in Love (Eph.5:1-17)

(Ephesians 5:1-17)  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that people should wake up (5:14)

- that people should become believers (5:14)

AS BELIEVERS it is God's will:

- that we should not be foolish (5:17)

- that we do not let anyone deceive us with empty words (5:6)

- that we do not fellowship in unbelievers' beliefs and their emptiness (5:7)

- that we do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness (5:11)

- that we abstain from course jesting, silly talk or filthiness (5:4)

- that we should not even appear to be immoral or impure (5:3)

- that we should not even appear to be greedy (5:3)

- that we expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness (5:11)

- that we understand what the will of the Lord is (5:17)

- that we try to learn what pleases the Lord (5:10)

- that we are careful how we walk (5:15)

- that we walk in wisdom (5:15)

- that we walk in God's goodness, righteousness and truth (5:8-9)

- that we walk in love, just as Christ loved us sacrificially (5:2)

- that we walk as children of Light (5:8-9)

- that we imitate God because we love Him and because we know He loves us (5:1)

- that we are thankful (5:4)

- that we make the most of our time (5:16)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being our example of truth, righteousness and goodness.  Guide us in our walk with You.  Help us desire to know more of You and Your word so that we may understand Your will and what pleases You.  Guide us in Your wisdom, so that we will not be deceived or swayed.  Give us Your strength to remain steadfast in Your will.

Thank You for being our example of sacrificial love.  In every circumstance, all of the time, fill us and guide us in showing Your pure and sacrificial love to others, so that they will see You.  Thank You for being our Light.  Guide us in knowing how to shine Your light into the darkness, which will expose people of their sin and their need for You in their lives.  Amen.

praying effectively: Walk in a Worthy Manner (Eph.4:1-16)

(Ephesians 4:1-16)  Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.  

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we walk in a manner worthy of our calling (4:1)

- that we are humble in all things (4:2)

- that we are gentle (4:2)

- that we are patient (4:2)

- that we tolerate our fellow believers (4:2)

- that we show love to our fellow believers (4:2)

- that we diligently keep peace with each other, with the unity of the Holy Spirit (4:3)

- that we mature in our faith, understanding God's doctrines (4:14-15)

- that we speak the truth in love (4:15)

- that we use our gifts to equip fellow believers (4:12)

- that we use our gifts to build up the Church and fellow believers in unity and faith, with the knowledge of Christ (4:12-13)

- that we all use our gifts, working together to build up unity and love in each member and the entire church (4:16)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love, unity and guidance.  May we all hunger to know more and more of You and Your words.  May we all allow You to work within our hearts and minds, so that our faith will continue to grow and mature.  Guide us to use the spiritual gifts which You have given to each one of us.  Help us to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, so that everything we do and say will be to - NOT tear down, but - build up our fellow believers and the Church, all to Your glory.  Amen.