How to Pray Guides
“Prayers of Faith, Hope and Love”, lessons on Prayer from 1 Thessalonians
Kalihi Union Church 2016, Pastor Jonathan Steeper
1. Pray “Grace and Peace”
…for the person you are lifting up to God. In I Thessalonians 1: 1, Paul prays a blessing over the Christians, “Grace and peace to you.” Begin by praying the same blessing over your relative, friend or neighbor.
Sample Prayer: “Grace and peace to you Patricia.”
2. Thank God
…for the person with a prayer of thanks.
Key Words: “Thank you”
Paul prays a prayer of thanks for the Thessalonians, “We always thank God for all of you…”(1:2) Continue by thanking God for the person’s life and character.
Sample Prayer: “Thank you God for Patricia’s faithfulness to you and that we have been together 32 years.”
3. Pray in Faith
…for the fruitful working of Christ.
Key Words: “I trust you”
Paul states that faith produces godly work, “We remember before God our Father your work produced by faith.” (1:3) In prayer we build our faith by affirming our trust in God’s presence and work around us.
Sample Prayer: “I trust You Holy Spirit that you are working in Patricia’s life right now to strengthen her and to use her powerfully in serving you.”
4. Pray with Hope
…for the inspiration that comes from Heaven.
Key Words: “I look forward to”
Paul gained his inspiration for endurance from the second coming of Christ and the final hope of heaven. “Your endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1:3) In this prayer we look forward to the finished work God has promised and our desire to see His handiwork “on earth as it is in heaven.”
Sample Prayer: “I look forward to my relationship with Patricia in heaven where we will worship and laugh together in your presence.”
5. Pray God’s Love
…to bring full life for them and others through them.
Key Words: “I love you”
Paul explains that God’s love prompts us in our hard work, “your labor prompted by love” (1:3) Later Paul prays, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (3: 12)
Sample Prayer: “Lord you love Patricia even more than I do. Let her be filled with your love as she teaches the children. May your love flow through her to them.” “. . . putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (5:8)
