PRAYER FOR HIS PEACE

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thess 3:16 (ESV)


"In Paul's writing, he refers to God the Father with six different titles:
1. God of patience and consolation
2. God of hope
3. God of all comfort
4. God of our Lord Jesus Christ
5. God of love
6. God of peace
Of these, he refers to only one more than once- "the God of Peace," which he uses five times. Here in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Paul attributes this same quality to our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul must have realized the role "peace" plays in our understanding of the nature of God and Christ's victory on the Cross.

Today we often think of peace as being the absence of conflict between individuals or nations, or the feeling of serenity we might have in a quiet moment. Yet in Hebrew, the word peace - shalom- has a much deeper and richer meaning. The word shalom means literally "completeness, soundness, welfare, peace...safety, soundness (in body)...health, prosperity... quiet, tranquility, contentment... friendship of human relationships and with God especially in covenant relationship. Shalom is one of the key words that describes our new covenant relationship to God through Christ's blood and sacrifice, and it is the term through which, when we enter back into covenant with God through Christ, we become His friend."
- David Bordon

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. The Lord [be] with you all.
2 Thess 3:16 (AMP)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for the Patience of Christ

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2 Thess 3:5 (ESV)

The prayer of the apostle was, that they might have the love of God in their hearts, and "the patience of Christ;" that is, the same patience which Christ evinced in his trials. They were then suffering affliction and persecution. They needed patience, that they might endure their trials in a proper manner. It was natural for the apostle to refer them to the Saviour, the great example of patience, and to pray that they might have the same which he had.—Barnes' Notes on the New Testament

"...the Christian life is more than a 100-meter dash; it was now time to set in for the marathon.

To this end, Paul prayed for them: May your active pursuit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

(a) Lead you more and more into the fullness of God's love.

(b) Lead you into patience, endurance, long-suffering, and steadfastness of Christ himself as you await His return.

2 Thessalonians 3: 5, Paraphrased"

- David Bordon

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer to Stand Firm in Truth

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
2 Thess 2:16-17 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer to Fulfill His Purpose

11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thess 1:11-12 (ESV)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Sanctification (To Be Set Apart, Holy)

23 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. 24  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1 Thess 5:23-24 (ESV)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thess 3:11-13 (ESV)



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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Hope

 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 (ESV)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Unity

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:5-6 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Right Priorities

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Colossians 1:9-12 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Guidance (Wisdom & Discernment)

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.


Phil 1:9-11 (ESV)


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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Eph 3:14-21 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom & Revelation

15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21  far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all

Eph 1:15-23 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah