The Aptitude of Paul’s Prayers: Paul desired for the church to succeed. So, naturally his prayers would be for the success of those carrying the banner of Truth. After describing the second coming of Jesus, Paul wrote, “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power” (2 Thessalonians 1:11). As Paul prayed for the success for the church at Thessalonica, he desired they pray for him also, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
The desire of every Christian should be for the spreading of the borders of the kingdom. Part of carry out that desire is to engage in prayer for such a task. Paul wrote, “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus” (Philemon 1:6). The aptitude of Paul’s prayers was for the success of the church.
The Altitude of Paul’s Prayers: Paul desired that Christians live holy lives. He approached the difficulties in the church at Corinth with a prayer that they might live righteously. The words of Paul’s prayers reach far beyond what many realize, “Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13:7). Here, Paul would even go so far as to willingly be rejected if that would cause these Christians to live holy. This was not an unusual approach for Paul (Romans 9:3).
The desire of Christians everywhere ought to be for every child of God to live holy in the sight of the Lord, and our prayers should reflect that desire, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). The altitude of Paul’s prayers was for Christians to live holy before the Lord so that Heaven would be a reality.
The Prayers of Paul can teach us many valuable lessons. The attitude of our prayers should to be with the salvation of man in mind. The aptitude of our prayers ought to be for the success of the church. The altitude of our prayers should be for all Christians to live holy lives. May God bless us all in our prayer life.