“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power…”
Paul now begins a prayer that the Thessalonians would develop certain qualities consistent with their calling.
Therefore
The “therefore” reaches back to the previous verse. Since the Christian is to reflect Christ’s glory and admire his Savior, Paul prays that the Thessalonians would prepare themselves so that their lives would harmonize with the Lord’s character.
we also pray
The thought of the Second Coming of Christ spurs Paul to pray for the Thessalonians in their present spiritual condition so that they may have a testimony of life at the Second Coming.
always
The word “always” occurs in Paul’s prayer in 1:3. Paul put great and persistent effort into prayer.
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5).
“…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—…” (Ephesians 6:18).
for you
Praying for others is intercessory prayer. Many of us pray for me and mine. We spend little time in prayer for others. We are quick to pray for our immediate family but slow to pray for someone else’s family.
“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
Principle:
We cannot pretend in prayer because God’s presence exposes superficiality in our hearts.
Application:
Christians should be at their best when they are in prayer. When we enter prayer, we enter the presence of God. We cannot pretend in God’s presence. He sees our hearts. He is the only being who fully knows our hearts. He exposes all the hypocrisy of our hearts.
It is wonderful to know that we can count on certain people to pray for us in times of trouble. United intercessory prayer is even more powerful. When people mix their prayers, something more powerful comes from their prayers. Something more happens when people pray together.
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
