You are here: Home >> Expressing Love for God >> Fellowship with God - Worship, Prayer, etc. >> Paul's Prayers

Paul's Prayers - An Example for Us to Follow

**– What Do You Pray About? –**

APPENDIX 2 - a More In-depth Look at Patterns We Find, When We Examine Paul's Prayer Requests for Himself

This is a more in-depth look at some of the interesting patterns we can find, when we look at the general context of the prayer requests that are made (or requested) for Paul:

1. Every time Paul asked people to pray for him, he first prayed for them. Also, in two of these passages, he first asked them to make prayer a part of their lifestyle and to pray for Christians everywhere, before he asked them to pray specifically for him. When he finally did ask them to pray for him, his primary focus was on what would result in the most good for others, rather than on what would be the most pleasant for himself.

Romans 15:30-32 - Paul first prayed for them (1:9-12) and mentioned his prayer for the unsaved (10:1). When he asks them to pray for him, he mentions requests for things that would benefit others.
Ephesians 6:18-20 - Paul first prayed for them (1:15-19 and 3:14-19); then he asked them to pray for Christians everywhere. Finally he asks them to pray for him, with a specific emphasis on his proclamation of the good news - something that would be of benefit to others.
Colossians 4:2-4 - Paul first prayed for them (1:9-12); then he told them to make prayer a characteristic of their lives. Finally he asks them to pray for him, with a specific emphasis on his proclamation of the good news - something that would be of benefit to others.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 - Paul first prayed for them (1:11-12). Then he asked them to pray for him (and those with him), with a focus on his proclamation of the good news about Jesus, and people's acceptance of it. He also asks for prayer that he (and those with him) might be delivered from those who did not accept the good news.
We do not know for certain who the human author was, for the book of Hebrews. Some people believe that Paul wrote it. If this were so, this would be the only passage in which there is no record of him first praying for the readers. But even in this passage, the author first asks them to pray for "us" - him and others - as a group, before he gives a specific request for himself. As with Paul's requests, this request is an expression of the author's love for those who were to receive his letter, for it expresses a desire that he (the author) might be able to be with them.

2. Every time Paul acknowledged the prayers of others for him, he focused on God as the one who would answer their prayers. Also, somewhere in each letter, he told them the things he prayed for them.

2 Corinthians 1:10-11 - Paul expected God to deliver him (and those with him) from their trials, because of the Corinthian's prayers. He tells them that many people would be filled with thanks, because of what God would do, in answer to their prayers. [He mentions his prayers for them, in 13:7, 9.]
Philippians 1:19-21 - He expected that, because of their prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the things that were happening to him would result in his deliverance. However, his main desire was to boldly exalt Christ, no matter what came his way - life or death. [He mentions his prayers for them in 1:9-11.]
Philemon 1:22 - He expected to be restored to them soon, as a result of their prayers. His main focus was on the need for them to be ready for him! [He mentions his prayer for them, in 1:6.]

Back to the PAUL'S PRAYERS title page