The Prayers from
the Apostle Paul
by Steve Santini
The ways in
which the Father brings us to understand the cross of Christ are as varied as the
stars and as numerous as the grains of sand by the seashore. As we learn Christ
each part becomes more fitly joined together in his body so that in full
sharing we grow together unto the holy temple in the Lord. Even so, there are
some ways of growth that are common to all. One is prayer.
In light of this I
would like to share something from personal growth that has helped us
experience the mystery. After my wife and I were over come with an intense
desire to know in 1995, we reasoned that there was a purpose for the inspiration
and that we were not to go back to just holding to Christian basics. We spent a
time searching ministries and messages. I walked and prayed and asked, “What is
your will for our lives?” Eventually I came across a book on prayer, which suggested
personalizing Biblical prayers by changing pronouns. For example it suggested
changing:
The Lord is
my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm
23:1
to:
Lord you are
Steve and Emily’s shepherd, we shall not want.
About the
same time I was directed to a minister who was beginning what turned out to be
a twelve-month series on the apostle Paul’s gospel. I had removed my minister’s
hat years before, so I just listened. During this time I realized that Paul had
prayed prayers for us centuries ago that are as powerful today as they were
about two millenniums ago. During our prayers my wife and I began to
occasionally pray for each other by inserting our names in Paul’s prayers and
changing the corresponding pronouns. In retrospect I can say that this was a
turning point, however gradual it has seemed, to understanding the Father’s
will for our lives. It has not always been easy for us to give up previous
understandings and to accept that without a living apostle Paul to readily
answer questions that periods of wonder and possible perplexity are a part of
the course. Although there are obstacles to understanding the mystery, I
believe the search is worth it in the scheme of all things. Why? There is a
pearl of great price in and from heaven that is to be laid hold for each
calling and each chosen vessel.
We began to focus on several things. We read and studied what is
written by and taught about the apostle Paul, asking questions as we patiently
moved along. We decided to trust the Holy Spirit to give us understanding and
to lead us to others with understandings.
We prayed Paul’s
prayers of Ephesians chapters one and three, Philippians chapter one, and
Colossians chapter one for others and ourselves. For example we changed:
That the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what
is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints... Ephesians
1:17,18
to:
That you, the
God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give Steve and Emily the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ: the eyes of our understanding
being enlightened; that Steve and Emily may know what is the hope of your
calling, and what is the riches of the glory of your inheritance in the
saints...
These are not prayers for prosperity, health or peace. They are prayers for knowledge, wisdom and understanding – the three most valuable commodities from God to man. (Proverbs 3:11-20) Attaining an understanding of God’s will may bring pressure as one is challenged to discard broken cisterns of unbelief and lifestyle for the fountain of living waters.
I would like to be
able to promise prosperity and health for those who seek through the prayers of
Paul, yet, in honesty, I cannot. I can, though, promise, as the words
themselves promise, that the faithful eyes of your understanding will be
enlightened so that you may know the hope of His calling and the riches of the
glory of the Father’s inheritance in the saints. And I can say as these things
are attained other aspects of life will fullfillingly flow.
Wherefore come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons
and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
II Corinthians 6:17,18
With your desire
and willingness to be formed more deeply by His hands, would you join us in
making it a custom to pray the prayers of the apostle Paul for your growth and
understanding and the growth and understanding of the church so that all may
enter His presence in praise with knowledge, understanding and wisdom?
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and
the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than
the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. Proverbs
3:13,14
Copyright, 2001, Steve Santini