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Prayer is one of the most important practices in a Christians walk with God. It is primarily a way of communication with our Father in heaven. In western culture today we live a life of affluence and materialism which often results in an attitude of no need and also huge distractions which plague our time and opportunity to pray. Recently whilst reading through the New Testament epistle of 1 Thessalonians God led me to write this summary of praying through this small letter. My heart is that it will help you brother or sister to re connect with our Father in prayer by praying through His heart in this letter. When you read this epistle it is encouraging to note the theme that the Thessalonian fellowship were on the right tract in the midst of persecution. Like most of the churches planted by Paul he was only there in person for a season and then he had to leave. In the days of no internet, mobile phones, Facebook or Twitter he had no way of knowing how they were doing in the midst of persecution and only received news of them through Timothy. As you read through the epistle you also clearly see the heart concern that Paul had for these people. He truly desired them to know Jesus more and more each day and this heart felt concern was what led him to write this epistle. Interestingly this epistle is the first piece of scripture that Paul wrote in about AD 52. Two main prayer topics come out in this epistle. They are prayer for the church and prayer for church leadership.
We should pray that in our local fellowships the word of God will be received in whatever circumstance with much fruitfulness. Sexual immorality Paul has specific things to say about believers turning and abstaining from Sexual Immorality. We should pray that our churches are free from sexual immorality and that we grow to conduct ourselves in holiness, honour and purity. Life of the church In this area Paul has the most to say. What he encourages and exhorts are as follows: 1. Believers would aspire to lead quiet lives, minding their own business, working with their hands and being dependent on no one. This promotes proper conduct with outsiders. 2. Believers to be sober, putting on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of the hope of salvation. 3. Believers should respect the leadership of the church and esteem them highly in love. 4. Believers should be at peace among themselves. 5. Believers should warn those not prescribing to an ordered way of life, encourage the timid, help the weak and be patient with all. 6. Believers should not repay evil with no evil but seek too good to all. 7. Believers should rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances. 8. Believers should not quench the Spirit or despise prophetic utterances but test everything holding on to what is good. 9. Believers should look to the second coming of Christ. Theres a lot there I know but I want you to think about your local fellowship and go through each of these points and see if they are being lived out within your midst. If there not we should aspire that they would and pray that the Lord would do a work to bring change because only He can do it.
Have a heart towards the people of God like a nursing mother and a father who encourages, exhorts and charges his children to walk in the proper way.
Final note
As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ I want to encourage you that growing in prayer is a process. Sometimes we feel like praying, sometimes we dont. It takes time but dont give up. You are a vital part of the living body of Christ and more than ever the body of Christ needs prayer. I pray this short piece blesses you and Ill leave you with one of the final verses in 1 Thessalonians found chapter 5: 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.