Within the new testament, particularly the epistles, there are numerous prayers written that apply to every believer in the world. Two things are important to realize when reading these prayers; first it is important to realize that they are not for one particular person or to any particular person or group of people! Rather they are ALL God ordained Holy Spirit inspired words meant for the encouragement and building up of the entire body of Christ. Although in their context they may be addressed to a particular person or church, God does not show favoritism and the fact that they are in the Word of God is proof that they are meant for everyone. The prayers in the bible represent God's perfect will for all believers and they are the pattern on which we should structure all our prayers! Secondly, we need to understand the nature of true prayer. Prayer is not (and should never be) wishful thinking, or something done only because "Christians should pray" as if the act of praying is more important than the prayer itself! On the contrary, prayer is the greatest privilege that God has given to believers. Through prayer we actually participate with God in carrying out his will in the earth. Prayer is the highest form of fellowship with God and is vital for all areas of life. Christians have largely forgotten or ignored the true purpose of prayer and fallen into the trap of praying for the sake of praying. The result is faithless prayers that no one really expects God to answer. Don't you know that if you don't expect God to answer your prayers he won't? Look at Mark 11:22-25 :
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."(NIV)
So you see by this two important parts of prayer; to believe that you have received what you pray for when you pray (not when you receive), and to forgive everyone that has wronged you. God will not answer prayers in response to doubt. This does not mean that we can have anything we want but rather: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us --whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14,15, NIV). Since God's will is His Word, we as believers have the right to believe God for anything that is promised in the bible:
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen " is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Cor 1:20, NIV)
&#It is important to point out that the people who wrote the new testament were well aware of Jesus' teaching on prayer and therefore were fully persuaded that their prayers would be answered, so when they were inspired by the Spirit to write down certain prayers they knew that God would respond to their faith. God will also move in response to our faith, praise God, so when you read these prayers put your faith in them and pray them for yourself and for your families and for your pastors and churches and be "fully persuaded that God has the power to do what he has promised"( Rom 4:21 NIV).
THE APOSTLE'S PRAYERS FOR EVERY BELIEVER
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above ALL rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Eph 1: 17-21 NIV)
For this reason [ seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named--from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name. May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the (Holy) Spirit [Himself]--indwelling your innermost being and personality. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell--settle down , abide, make His permanent home-- in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints (God's devoted people, the experience of that love) what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [that you may really come] to know--practically, through experience for yourselves--the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience); that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God--[that is] may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body, wholly filled and flooded with God Himself! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of ) the [action of His] power that is at work within us is able to [carry out His purpose and ] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think--infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams--to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen--so be it.(Eph 3:14-21, The Amplified Bible).
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ....And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God. (Phil 1:3-6 and 9-11 NIV)
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ( Col 1:9-14, NIV)
And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you . So that He may strengthen and confirm and establish your hearts faultlessly pure and unblamable in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, with all His saints--the holy and glorified people of God! Amen, so be it! ( 1 Thes 3:12,13, the Amplified Bible).
...we constantly pray for you, that our God may deem and count you worthy of [your] calling and [His] every gracious purpose of goodness, and with power complete in every particular work of faith [faith which is that leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness]. Thus may the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified and become more glorious through and in you, and may you [also be glorified] in Him according the grace (favor and blessing) of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, The Messiah, the Anointed One. ( 2 Thes 1:11,12, the Amplified Bible).
I pray that you may be active in sharing you faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. ( Philemon 6, NIV)
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(Heb 13:20, NIV)
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 john 2, NAS)
JESUS PRAYER FOR EVERY BELIEVER
...I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them. ( John 17: 20-26 NIV)
Isn't it wonderful to know that these prayers are the will of God for you and all believers in the world? The Lord wants to bless you and strengthen you and empower you to live a life of total victory in Him:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, NIV).
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." ( Matt 11:28-30, NIV).
All the powers of death and hell can't stop a prayer of faith from coming to pass for God Himself is for us and with us and in us, Hallelujah! So:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:4-7, NIV). C.F.