Praying consistently and insistently.
We can learn from the way Paul prayed in general but specifically for others. We see this in 1 Thessalonians. Often his prayers started with thankfulness and gratitude to God. Then he would move on to pray for others. How did he pray for the Thessalonians?
He (and his team) prayed for them consistently and insistently
“Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.” v. 10
What did he pray consistently and insistently to God for the Thessalonians? To be able to see them. “Pray” here means “to plead” “to request”. They pleaded or prayed to God consistently day and night for the Thessalonians. They were not just “mere” prayers. They did so with “insistence” which literally means “abundantly.” This indicates that they were not sporadic passive pleas but prayers that were intense and with great passion for them. Satan had hindered them from going to see them, but this did not stop Paul from trying again and again and pray “day and night with great insistence. What an example for us in the way we pray!
He prayed that the would provide what they lacked in their faith.
The purpose of them wanting to see them, although it had a relational aspect, was more than that. They prayed not only that God would allow them to see them but that they could complete or provide what they lacked in their faith. Paul was not allowed to be with them any longer as he was prematurely removed from the city. The Thessalonians had believed but needed to be instructed or trained to live their faith in Christ. Paul did not pray that the Thessalonians would have a desire to be faithful, or to live as believers because they were already doing so. But they didn’t have the knowledge because of the lack of instruction. This is why Paul prayed to God for them, to be able to go and provide the instruction they needed for their faith.
Today there are many believers who lack maturity in their faith but it is not because there is no biblical instruction (although there is much bad teaching) but because they lack the desire to be faithful and firm believers. They live and are satisfied with spiritual mediocrity. This kind of faith cannot survive in times of affliction, trials, and suffering. This is why we ought to pray for others.
It is not very difficult for each of us who are believers to determine whether we need anything to strengthen our faith. We know, and we can do something if we want to. That’s exactly what discipleship has as its goal. The goal is to help you complete or supplement or instruct you in what is needed in your spiritual life for you to be a mature believer. If your desire is to grow spiritually, begin with prayer.
Paul prays for them as he is writing and elaborates more what he asks God on their behalf. He again reiterated that he prays that God would make a way for him to be able to see them (v. 11). He prays that their love would keep growing more and more (v. 12). The purpose of why he is asking this is stated in verse 13,
“May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”
Paul prays that they would be completely firm in the Lord and completely dedicated to the Lord. He wants them to be ready for the day when Christ comes.
We can learn from Paul’s example in how we should be praying for others, not only the manner but what we should pray for others (this doesn’t take away praying for health and for other tangible things. It improves on that). You can begin using what Paul prayed by substituting a name of someone you know in the prayer below. Pray consistently and insistently. May this be a good beginning.
May he strengthen ____ hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
