The “Pauline” Prayers

Praying the “Word” is one of the most effective ways to pray. Throughout the Epistles Paul prayed for those to whom he was writing. Called the “Pauline” prayers, these passages of scripture focus on God’s will for all believers. As a believer confesses them two things happen; 1) as that Word is spoken repeatedly, revelation of the Truth of the Word begins to drop into the heart of the believer, and, 2) as a result of that revelation, the person’s life begins to be transformed into the very image of the Word being spoken. Whether you are speaking these prayers over yourself or others, it is a powerful way to grow in the Lord.

Prayer #1

Ephesians 1:17–21 (NLT)

¹⁷ asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom* and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. ¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. *

¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

Confession:

I ask and thank you God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for giving me spiritual wisdom and insight so that I grow in my knowledge of You. I thank you that my heart is flooded with light and I understand the confident hope You have given to those You called, your holy people who are your rich and glorious inheritance. I also thank You that I understand the incredible greatness of Your power for those who believe in You.  It is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else – not only in this world but also in the world to come.

Prayer #2

Ephesians 3:16–20 (NLT)

¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Confession:

I pray and thank You Heavenly Father that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You empower me with inner strength through Your Spirit. I thank You that Christ makes His home in my heart as I trust in Him.  My roots grow down into God’s love and keep me strong.  I have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and deep Your love is.  I experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  I am made complete with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now all glory to You, God, who is able through Your mighty power at work within me to accomplish infinitely more than I might ask or think.

Prayer #3

Philippians 1:9–11 (NLT)

⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ*—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Confession:

I pray and thank You, Heavenly Father, that Your love overflows more and more {in me} and that I keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. I thank You that I understand what really matters, so that I live a pure and blameless life until the day of Christ’s return.  I am always filled with the fruit of Your salvation – the righteous character produced in my life by Jesus Christ – and this brings much glory and praise to God.

Prayer #4

Colossians 1:9–14 (NLT)

⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

¹¹ We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,* ¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ who purchased our freedom* and forgave our sins.

Confession:

I do not stop praying and asking and thanking You, Heavenly Father, for giving me complete knowledge of Your will and giving me spiritual wisdom and understanding. I thank You that the way I live always honors and pleases You, Lord, and my life produces every kind of good fruit. All the while I grow as I learn to know You better and better.

I also pray and thank You that I am strengthened with all Your glorious power so I have all the endurance and patience I need.  I am filled with joy always thanking You, Father. You have enabled me to share in the inheritance that belongs to Your people, who live in the light.  Thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into the Kingdom of Your dear Son, who purchased my freedom and forgave my sins.

Prayer #5

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 (NLT)

¹¹ So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. ¹² Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.*

Confession:

I keep on praying asking and thanking you God, for enabling me to live a life worthy of Your call. Thank you for giving me the power to accomplish all the good things my faith prompts me to do. As a result the name of my Lord Jesus is honored because of the way I live, and I will be honored along with Him.  This is made possible because of the grace of my God and Lord, Jesus Christ.