What Should We Pray For?

Just last night I was asking the Lord what he thought of my prayer life.He pointed me to Philippians3-4,which reads,'I thank my God every time I remember you.In all my prayers for all of you,I always pray with joy.' When I read it,honestly,I was deeply disgusted and disappointed with myself.My prayer life pales in comparison to Apostle Paul's!As I examined Apostle Paul's prayer life,I began to notice something which was lacking in mine.And I believe it's lacking in many lives of christians today.You see,whether it's the book of Romans or the books of Corinthians or the book of Philippians or the books of Timonthy,Paul's prayer life is very evident.Every book that Apostle Paul wrote records that he prayed and he prayed and he prayed.Whatever circumstance he was in,wherever he was,he was praying.And Apostle Paul never prayed for a change of circumstance in any way.What he prayed for in everything was for a change of character.You see friends,many of us today are continually praying for a change of circumstance.'Lord,please help with the bills','Lord please send healing to this person','Lord please take away this trial and deliver me'.I believe Apostle Paul,in his lifetime,went through countless trials and what-nots,even when he was writing the books we read of in the bible.Yet the book of Philippians records for us that he prayed with joy!Why?Because he knew that whatever he was going through,it was to allow God to bring him to spiritual maturity,to bring him to completion.He believed that God was the author and finisher of his faith,and he was willing to allow God to mould him.(Philippians1:6 'Being confident of this,that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.')
Friends today as we pray,let our prayers be like the Apostle Paul's.Pray not for a change of circumstance,but for a change of character.And let us pray with joy,whatever situation we are in,because let us understand that God is always moulding us into completion,and let us will ourselves into his hands and into his will.Amen.


Oh Lord I give my life
As an offering to you
To be purified as gold
According to your will
Oh Lord
Make my life count for you
I'll go through the fire for you