Since we’re going to be spending a little time together, I thought I’d confess something to you. You ready? Here goes. Sometimes I don’t know what to prayer for. I just don’t. I know I’m a pastor, and I’m supposed to know these things, but there are times when I’m just at a loss. I think I figured out why. As shocking as this may sound, I’m not all knowing, and I can’t always figure out what God is up to. My wisdom usually reaches about as far as my knowledge, so I also don’t always know what is best. In other words, I pray with limited knowledge and limited wisdom. Sometimes I’m tempted to begin my prayers with, “God, the way I see it…” I can just picture God smiling and chuckling a bit. But because I can’t peel back the curtain of heaven and eavesdrop on God’s grand design, I like praying Bible prayers. These are prayers, requests or pleas that come right from the pen of the Biblical authors—seems pretty reliable to me. An example of a Bible prayer can be found in today’s verses from Philippians 1:9-11:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

I don’t want to sound too much like an old codger, but I figure if it was good enough for Paul, it’s good enough for me. What is Paul’s prayer here for the saints? 

Paul prays that your love may abound more and more. May you have a second helping of God’s love. May his love be yours…and then some. “More and more,” Paul said. He’s like a hungry teenager who asks for another scoop of mashed potatoes and then says, “A little more, please.” May your love increase—abound more and more. 

Isn’t it interesting what Paul adds to a helping of love? Did you notice? “That your love may abound more and more with all knowledge and discernment.” Paul prays that the people of God would have a wise and discerning love. That’s interesting. I don’t always attach wisdom and discernment on the back end of love. Love songs abound, but I can’t remember the last time I heard one about wise and discerning love. I challenge anyone to find a movie that focuses on discerning love above “butterflies-in-your-stomach” love. But here it is in Paul’s prayer.  May your love abound with knowledge and discernment. 

A love that abounds in the knowledge of God and wise discernment will approve of what is excellent in his sight. As Paul admonished the Ephesians in chapter 5: “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”  This abounding, wise, discerning love moves us toward godliness, so that we will be found pure and blameless before God on the day of Christ.  

If love can be wise and discerning, I take that to mean it could also be unwise and foolish. A love that leads you to do or feel or think what is not excellent and blameless is not godly love. It’s misguided love or misplaced love. It’s unwise love. God’s love in us causes us to love what God loves. What God loves is good, excellent, and blameless. 

God’s love produces in us the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ. This is not a righteousness of our own making or a result of our loving deeds but is the fruit of Christ’s sacrifice. And it is for God’s glory. The work of God in the people of God results in the glory of God. We love, and God is seen as great. What God’s love produces in us is for God’s glory. 

Don’t feel discouraged if you struggle with prayer. I’m sure you know you should pray, and you probably know who to include in your prayers, so if you struggle with the what or the how, use your Bible. Pray God’s word to God!  Start here: 

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.