Sometimes it can be difficult to know how to pray for other believers. Yes, we pray for their needs and general health and protection, but there is so much more that they have need of – spiritual needs.

In the above verses, Paul the apostle mentions that when he prays for the Philippian Christians, that he makes four specific prayer requests for them. They are:

1. “that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment”

Paul prayed that their love for Christ and for fellow believers would continue to grow. He prayed that it would grow more through Bible knowledge and personal (relationship) knowledge of Christ, and that their love would be applied to their discernment (“judgment”).

2. “That ye may approve things that are excellent”

The approving that Paul wants them to develop is the result of the application of proper discernment. Once you determine what the best things are to do and act upon from Scripture, you choose to focus on the best things and leave off the spiritually unprofitable things.

3. “that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ”

The word “sincere” means genuine – the real thing. Choose to be a real Christian – the Bible kind – the New Testament kind – not the wishy-washy types so often found today. The phrase “without offense” means that we do not offend Christ with compromising lifestyles, actions, or habits. He will one day judge us – so let us please Him in all we do.

4. “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

God wants every believer to be like His Son – Jesus Christ. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit while on earth – and with God’s help – we should be also. All that Christ did, was done in righteousness and for God’s glory – not His own.

As you can see, praying these kinds of things for our fellow believers and pastors and missionaries will add a new dimension to your praying. Will you begin to add these things to your prayers as you bring those you pray for before God?