Philippians 1:9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding (NLT).
Most times, we desire to be more spiritual than we are but often, we pray the wrong prayers. If you ask the average believer how close he/she want to be to God, the answer is predictable.
However, most of us don't pray like those who really want to be close to God. In the opening text, Paul prayed that the love of the brethren in Phillipi will overflow and that they'll keep growing in knowledge ( Epignosis) and discernment. That's deep.
Speaking about the last days, Jesus said, 'And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold"( Matthew24:12). What Satan js attacking this endtime the most is the love of God's people for him and his kingdom.
Paul prayed that insightful prayer for the Philippians because he knew that the moment the love of a believer is attacked, iniquity becomes the norm. In the next verse, he clearly stated the purpose of that prayer, "For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return"(Philippians 1:10 NLT).
When your love overflow and you grow in knowledge and understanding, you will understand what matters to God. The moment you begin to walk in understanding of the things that matter to God, you'll live a pure and blameless life till Christ comes.
Walking in the flesh is a sign that we lack the understanding of the things that matter to God. The devil seeks to rob us of the knowledge needed so as to lead us astray. Misplaced priority in spiritual matters is very dangerous.
Everyday, we should seek to know the things that matter to God. Sometimes, our hearts are fixed on the wrong things but we spiritualize those things in the place of prayer.
I have been in prayer meetings where the prayer leader led prayers like: "Tell God to lift you up so that everyone in your family will be looking up to you". That's a selfish prayer and such doesn't matter to God. He doesn't answer. Such prayers.
You can't be praying those prayers and expect to produce kingdom fruit. In fact, such prayers feed the flesh more. Those that desire spiritual growth do not pray prayers that feed the flesh and starve the spirit.
True spiritual men seek intimacy with God through prayers. Carnal people seek only things through prayers. It is better to have the fullness of God's expression through us than to seek earthly things through him.
Let's pray this Pauline prayer.
Father, let my love for you overflow and cause me to grow in knowledge and understanding for me to understand what matters to you so that I can lead pure and blameless life till Christ returns in Jesus name. Amen