Most of these prayers in the New Testament are found at the beginning of the epistles. There is an important lesson in this: we must begin with prayer, and then speak, and not first talk about a person, and then pray, or not at all !

It is so easy to criticize, but I have learned that we can not really know a person before we really pray. If we approach God in prayer, with an open heart and an open mind, he can show us what is really happening, the wounds of a person, for example, that cause him to react as he does. Our prayers will then be filled with mercy, asking God to touch that person and heal her.

Paul always began with thanksgiving, praise and prayer. It was only after he began to say things and to correct. God is also always a God who thinks in the long term. Most of these prayers are prayers that need to be continually prayed before they can really get into the depths. And we can continue to do so because with God we can always go further. The more we pray God's prayers, the more we discover that there is always more to discover.

When we want to pray for someone, we can pray to them if we are not led by the Holy Spirit to pray otherwise. In this way, we are always sure to pray according to the word of God and in His will !

The fact that long-term perseverance is necessary is illustrated with the first prayer of the Apostle Paul in Romans 1: 9-10:

"God, to whom I worship in my spirit, by the good news of his Son, is witness to me that I continually mention you; I always ask, in my prayers, to have at last, by the will of God, a favorable opportunity to come and see you."

Paul did not pray only once, then said, "Well, it does not work, it's probably not God's will that I go to Rome, I give up ..." It was a Fight, and it was necessary to persevere in prayer, until God opened the way for him. In verse 13 he says that he was prevented from doing so. In 1 Thessalonians 2:18 he says, "More than once we wanted to come and see you, at least I, Paul, but the Satan prevented us."

If you have something in your heart, and you are convinced that it comes from God, continue to pray, insist, do not give up. There is one who wishes to prevent you, but, in persevering, and if it is the will of God, it will be done ! No one can close a door that God opened, but we can be prevented from passing through that door !

In the days to come, we will look at other prayers of Paul.

"Lord, help me to persevere in prayer, and give me discernment in order to know if an obstacle comes from you, or if it is the Enemy who wants to prevent me from going further ! In the name of Jesus, amen !"

René de Groot