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. Philippians 1:9-11
Paul prays a wonderful prayer for the believers in Philippi. He asks God for things that really matter in life. While I believe God wants us in a constant conversation that includes prayers for small and temporary things, even the trivial, I marvel at the beautiful prayer of the apostle Paul. He wants them to grow in love by growing in knowledge and insight. Why? So they can discern what is best for their lives and become blameless before God. He wants them to be filled with all that comes from right living (recognizing its only possible because of relationship to Jesus Christ) and all of this for God’s glory and praise, not our own. Wow!
Is this what I want and pray for others? Have I matured and understand that these things are what really matters?
Lord Jesus, I want to be used by You to make an eternal difference in people’s lives. Help me today to pray these kinds of prayers for those I know. I pray it for myself as well. Now may Your love abound in me, so that I can discern what is best and stand before You blameless on the day I meet You or You return. Make my life fruitful and righteous for Your glory.
