Topical Encyclopedia
Prayer for spiritual blessings is a vital aspect of the Christian life, reflecting a believer's desire for growth in faith, wisdom, and understanding of God's will. The Bible emphasizes the importance of seeking spiritual blessings through prayer, as these are essential for living a life that is pleasing to God and aligned with His purposes.
Biblical FoundationThe Apostle Paul frequently highlights the significance of praying for spiritual blessings. In
Ephesians 1:17-19 , Paul prays for the believers, saying, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe."
This passage underscores the importance of seeking wisdom and revelation to deepen one's relationship with God. It also highlights the need for enlightenment to understand the hope and power available to believers.
Spiritual Wisdom and UnderstandingColossians 1:9-10 further illustrates the need for prayer in acquiring spiritual wisdom: "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."
Here, Paul emphasizes the role of prayer in gaining knowledge of God's will, which is essential for living a life that bears fruit and pleases the Lord. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but is deeply spiritual, imparted by the Holy Spirit.
Strength and EndurancePrayer for spiritual strength and endurance is another key aspect. In
Ephesians 3:16-19 , Paul prays, "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
This prayer highlights the necessity of spiritual strength, which enables believers to grasp the vastness of Christ's love and to be filled with God's fullness. Such strength is crucial for enduring trials and remaining steadfast in faith.
Discernment and InsightPhilippians 1:9-11 provides insight into the prayer for discernment: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
Paul's prayer for the Philippians focuses on the growth of love accompanied by knowledge and insight, which are necessary for discerning what is best and living a righteous life. This discernment is crucial for making decisions that honor God and reflect His character.
ConclusionPrayer for spiritual blessings is a profound expression of a believer's dependence on God for growth in faith, wisdom, strength, and discernment. Through such prayers, Christians seek to align their lives with God's will, bear fruit in every good work, and experience the fullness of His love and power.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Matthew 6:33But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
The Secret of Effectual Prayer
... A Christian may often have very earnest desires for spiritual blessings. ... The spiritual
desires are not all-absorbing. He wonders that his prayer is not heard. ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter ix the secret of.htm
The Disciple, -- Sometimes this Question is Asked, "Since God is ...
... pay little regard to temporal blessings, but fix their love on the unseen and spiritual.
We cannot alter the will of God, but the man of prayer can discover ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/section i the disciple 3.htm
Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... of the righteous." The apostle James Bays, "The effectual, fervent prayer of a ... possible
terms, of the willingness of God to give spiritual blessings to those ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm
The Prayer of Jabez
... and have good cause to pray this prayer that they may learn to make a distinction
between some things which they think to be spiritual blessings, and others ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the prayer of jabez.htm
Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity Prayer and Spiritual Knowledge.
... Christ as the source of all these blessings, saying: "This ... are the Word of God, and
prayer against the ... day and night labors to suppress spiritual knowledge, to ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty fourth sunday after trinity.htm
Paul a Pattern of Prayer
... with all spiritual blessings, was everything to him; to pray and expect the heavenly
power in his work and on his work, from heaven direct by prayer, was the ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter xiii paul a pattern.htm
The Christian Prayer
... It is not unreasonable for men to pray for material and spiritual blessings. While
the sphere of prayer may be narrowed in certain directions by what we know ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study vii the christian prayer.htm
Whatsoever Ye Will
... men around us need; in Him all God's children are blessed with all spiritual blessings;
He is full of grace and truth. But it needs prayer, much prayer, strong ...
/.../the true vine meditations for a month on john 151-16/whatsoever ye will.htm
Prayer
... as for spiritual. We send out prayer as our merchant ship, that we may
have large returns of spiritual blessings. Our aim in it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 6 prayer.htm
Introduction
... conception of the place that intercession, as distinguished from prayer for ourselves ...
from the Father the Holy Spirit and all spiritual blessings to impart; in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the ministry of intercession/introduction.htm
Resources
Why is daily prayer important? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a prayer vigil? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the different types of prayer? | GotQuestions.orgPrayer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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