What lessons can we learn from Paul when he prays for the Philippian church? How should we learn to pray like him? What does he spend most of his time praying for from a roman prison cell? He doesn’t focus on his own needs, or even ask for prayers for himself. His prayers revolve around the needs of others.

“And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9–11 HCSB

Paul’s Prayer

In this passage Paul begins his letter to the church of Philippi with a prayer. Now, this is not your typical Sunday morning small group prayer. Rather than praying for safe travels, the health of a fellow believer’s cat, or the infamous “unspoken,” Paul prays in a way that is both selfless and keenly biblical.

He prays for the Philippian believers’ spiritual growth, and in doing this he models for us what our prayers should look like. His prayer is especially striking as Paul is writing this letter from a Roman prison cell. Instead of asking for prayer for his deliverance, he prays for the growth and sanctification of the church. The example of Paul’s prayer should revolutionize the way we pray for one another, especially for those in our…