A prayer for love
I confess that I’m nervous about re-phrasing Paul’s prayer-reports as prayers that we might take to our own lips. I fear that, in doing so, I may be distorting Scripture. However, I think it is worth trying. For one thing, Paul isn’t giving set prayers to be repeated word for word. For another, surely he would encourage us to pray along the lines he himself was praying? So, with some trepidation, here is my re-phrasing of Paul’s
prayer-report in Philippians 1:9-11. If you can suggest any improvements, please let me know. And why not have a go at using this prayer in your own prayers?
Our glorious Lord, the God of love,
We ask you to make our love increase more and more – our love for you, our love for one another, and our love for those who do not yet know you – and for that love to be shaped by true knowledge, both of you and of ourselves, and the kind of understanding that leads to practical action;
And we ask for this kind of love so that we will be able to choose, from the many delicate choices that surround us daily, what really is best – to be transparently good and without fault – and all with a view to the day when Christ returns, overflowing with the good works that he produces in us through our relationship with him;
And we ask all this not so much for our own good, but so that you may receive the glory and praise due to you for your work in us. Amen.