And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; Philippians 1:9
We already know that Paul’s prayer includes thanks for the believers at Philippi. He was thankful for the fellowship he had with them as they both labored in the Gospel ministry. We also know that he was registering certain requests for them.
In this verse, we begin to see what his requests were. They included: [1] that their love for one another would abound, [2] that they would approve things that were excellent, and [3] that they would be sincere and without offence.
This is so different from our normal prayer requests. We usually pray that someone would be made well, or that their financial needs would be met, or that they would be safe in their travels, or that they would prosper in their business. Or, we pray for everyone around them that they would stop causing them problems. How much better it would be if we would pray like Paul.
Often in God’s maturing process for His children, He must lead them through difficulties, sickness, needs. He has not forgotten them. He still loves them, and still very capably cares for them. How needless it often is for us to pray that they would have an easier life, when it is those very difficulties that God is using to bring them to maturity, or to present to someone else a ‘show-and-tell’ of how He can give victory in the midst of difficulties. We should never want God to lead a person into a difficult time, and then stop it before He has accomplished what He is desiring to do. God WILL eventually accomplish all he sets out to do—we can be confident of that. If this difficulty is cut short, He may have to bring about another one until we learn to humbly trust in Him.
It would be better for us to pray, “Lord, get full use out of this difficult time. Accomplish what You are about, and help us to follow the example that You gave us when you were here in the flesh. Teach us to pray, to trust, and to be confident and joyful in knowing we are in your loving, capable hands.”
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; Philippians 1:9