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
Sometime ago while teaching in a bible study meeting, I told my listeners about praying scripture based prayers that makes for spiritual growth. Certain prayers only affect time but do not touch eternity.
Listening to most of the prayer points raised in most of our pulpits today, you will see selfishness, spiritual illiteracy and immaturity in the things of the Spirit. God wants us to grow. One of the ways to know a growing and mature believer is listen to their prayer points. Your prayer points tell us your age in the things of the Spirit.
In the opening text, Paul prayed that the love of Philippians believers will overflow more and more. That is a spiritual prayer that addresses one's spiritual life. It is focused on developing a vital and core spiritual virtue that pleases God not self. That is the true kingdom prayers not prayers that serves self.
Further, he prayed that they keep growing in knowledge and understanding. This is profound. The knowledge Paul referred to here is full knowledge about God not some fairy tales and fables that some are peddling as knowledge today. To understand is to perceive clearly.
When was the last time you prayed this way? If I advertise a prayer meeting where we'll be praying to increase in love of God, His knowledge and understanding, will you attend? Be sincere. Truth be told, most are drifting towards mundane things faster than they are getting to close to God. If a meeting does not promise sudden breakthroughs, some may not attend.
Reading through the epistles, most prayers prayed by Paul and other apostles are in this fashion. The focus is on eternal things not ephemerals. When will you start praying this way?
Verse 10 reveals the purpose of that Pauline 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*".
When we grow in love, knowledge and understanding of God, we will live pure and blameless lives as we await Christ's return. Shouldn't this be our ultimate desire?
Father, help my love for you to overflow and increase me in knowledge and understanding in Jesus name.