Renew Your Mind | Part Three

  “The quality of our lives often depends on the quality of our habits” James Clear

Studying Romans 12:1-2  we see that transformation focuses on three areas:  

Previously we’ve looked at the areas of: Our Identity & How we respond to life.  

Area 3: Our Prayer Life! 

When followers of Jesus live renewing their mind and pursuing a holy life, they find their prayer life takes  on a more unselfish focus. The Apostle Paul’s transformational life not only changed his thinking about his personal life and mission but provides a pattern for others to follow in their prayer life. 

You can study Paul’s prayers in the following scriptures:

Ephesians 1:17-23, Ephesians 3:16-21, Philippians 1:9-11 & Colossians 1:9-14

Here’s a synopsis of each prayer Paul prayed for believers plus the purpose of the prayer:

Ephesians 1:17-23 

Paul prayed for believers to have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in their knowledge of Jesus. He prayed this for 3 major results:

1. That they would know the expectations of God’s call on their lives
2. That they would know richness of God’s inheritance in them!
3. That they would know Jesus’ resurrection power* in their life on earth.

*By ‘resurrection power’ Paul refers to the power that not only raised Jesus from the dead, but the power that seated Him in heavenly places above all principalities, powers, might and dominion of every name in this world but also in the world to come.

Ephesians 3:16-21

Paul prayed that believers be strengthened with might by God’s Spirit with 5 major results in his mind:

1. That Christ would live in their hearts by faith. 
2. That believers would be individually rooted and grounded in God’s love.
3. That collectively believers would comprehend the fullness of God’s love.
4. That believers would be kind, merciful and forgiving with one another.
5. That the love of Christ in their lives would surpass their knowledge of God to the point that they would find their fulfillment in God’s fullness.

Philippians 1:9-11 Paul prays that the abounding love between believers, would result in them sensing what’s most vital. 

Colossians 1:9-14 He prays believers will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will with wisdom and understanding so they can walk worthy of the Lord, be fruitful and increase in their knowledge of Him.

Conclusion:

Our prayer life should involve God’s love and revelation from scriptures. The Kingdom’s business in the first century advanced because believers prayed unselfish and powerful prayers.