Tag: christianity

Prayer Requests Gone Deeper

Scripture

Whenever I’m at a loss about how to pray for another person, I find help in God’s Word, specifically the examples given by Paul’s prayers (sprinkled through his letters). Here are paraphrases:

Acts. 26:29 'praying you might become such as I (Paul) am'

Romans 1:8 'praying your faith might be proclaimed'
Romans 6:17-18 'praying you become obedient from the heart'
Romans 10:1 'praying for your salvation'
Romans 15:30-31 'praying you might be delivered from those who are disobedient; praying your service may prove acceptable'

I Cor. 1:4-8 'praying you will be enriched in Him, in all speech and knowledge...not lacking in any gift'
2 Cor. 2:14 'praying Christ manifests through you the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him'
2 Cor. 8:16 'praying for the earnestness of God'
2 Cor. 9:15 'praying for His indescribable gift in your life'

Eph. 1:15-19 'praying for a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, praying the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so you may know what is the hope of His calling'
Eph. 3:14-19 'praying He strengthens you with power through His Spirit in the inner man...so you may be able to comprehend and know the love of Christ.'
Eph. 6:19-20 'praying utterance is given to you to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel'

Phil. 1:3-5,9-11 'praying that your love may abound in real knowledge and all discernment'

Col. 1:3-6 'praying for a constant increase in fruit bearing'
Col. 1:9-12 'praying you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom; praying you walk in a manner worthy, to please Him in all respects, with steadfastness and patience'
Col. 4:2-4 'praying God may open up to you a door for the word so you can speak forth the mystery of Christ'

I Thess. 1:2-4 'praying for your work of faith, labor of love, steadfastness of hope'
I Thess. 2:13 'praying the word of God performs its work in you'
I Thess. 3:11-13 'praying the Lord will cause you to abound in love for one another and establish your hearts unblamable in holiness'
I Thess. 5:23-24 'praying God will sanctify you entirely'
2 Thess. 1:3 'praying your faith is greatly enlarged and the love of each one grows ever greater'
2 Thess. 1:11-12 'praying God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, that the Lord may be glorified in you'
2 Thess. 2:13 'praying for sanctification by the Spirit'
2 Thess. 2:16-17 'praying God will comfort and strengthen your hearts'
2 Thess. 3:1-2 'praying that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, and you will be delivered from perverse and evil men'
2 Thess. 3:16 'praying the Lord will grant you peace in every circumstance'

1 Tim. 1:12-14 'praying God will strengthen you, consider you faithful, put you into service'
2 Tim. 1:3-4 'praying you will serve God with a clear conscience'

Philemon 4-6 'praying the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake'

Mathematical Musings: Ups and Downs

Scripture

The mathematician in me has always appreciated the concept of inverse variation: if the value of one quantity increases, the value of the other quantity decreases in the same proportion. For example, at constant temperature, as pressure increases, volume decreases. You might remember this from physics or chemistry class.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (ESV) says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” The inverse variation analogy might be a stretch. But, in the life of a believer, we don’t fret about the inverse relationship between the outer and inner selves. We take heart. While the outer physical self decreases in stamina and vigor, by God’s grace our inner self is increasingly renewed and invigorated for glory. We are embodied souls living with a “both” existence of life and death. As we lament the curse of bodily decrease, we also take joy in the grace given in our hearts being enlarged by a beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ.

Another look at mathematical principles includes the concept of direct variation (the opposite of inverse variation) which happens when both values increase at the same time and in relationship to one another. 2 Corinthians 5:11-15 says, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves (crazy), it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that One has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him Who for their sake died and was raised.”

As the Corinthians increasingly mocked Paul as being crazy, the unbelieving Corinthian culture increased in darkness and hard-heartedness. Yet, there was a simultaneous increase in right-mindedness – knowing the fear of the Lord and sharing the Gospel with others. Being sober and crazy at the same time, increasingly. Have you ever experienced that dual reality? Paul exemplified sobriety in his passion for ministry, motivation to please Christ, and priority to persuade others of Gospel truth even while accusations of his craziness increased.

Being in your “right mind” is observed when a believer grows in relationship with the Lord to reveal outward evidence of wisdom, fruitfulness and passion. The world may question the faith upon which these evidences are based as insanity. But taking a page from Paul’s playbook, nothing else matters except that the love of Christ controls us increasingly and that we live for Him. What may seem ludicrous to one group will be eternally life-giving to others.

Here are other valuations that increase in concert by God’s perfect design. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Let these increase directly in relationship to one another.

For the believer, direct variation should be a “both” existence of faith and love. Watch love increase when faith increases. It is direct!