Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

What do we pray for? Is it for comfort, wealth or power in this life? Maybe some are praying for a relationship so they don’t feel lonely? These are good things to pray about, but there is a better prayer topic than all of these.

Paul had ailments, relationship challenges, money needs, loneliness, and all the rest. However, he chose to pray primarily for the things that were excellent for him and for the Thessalonians: First, he prays for the paths of ministry to be opened. He prays that whatever spiritual and physical barriers are in the way be either knocked down or a workaround be found. He prays not mainly for the temporal needs he has — instead he prays for the ministry of discipleship in Jesus Christ to increase!

Second, he prays for the Thessalonians to have a love given by the Spirit of the Lord. This is different from praying they will do more good works. Instead he prays that the manner and methods in which they relate will be full of love. And this concept of “overflowing love” reminds me of a radical love. This is a love that, in a good way, overwhelms its recipient. The recipient feels like they are highly valued and a VVIP (Very Very Important Person) to the person showering them with love. How do I completely WOW people with the love that I get from Jesus?

And finally, he prays that God will strengthen their hearts so they will be blameless and holy. Blameless not because they never have, currently do not, or will not in the future, sin. Instead they are declared blameless as they draw close to God because his Spirit purifies them. And holy, or incredibly weighty in righteousness and truth. Living as if we are strangers on earth and our God is our Master and Lord.

Lord, thank you for this prayer of Paul which serves as a model for me. Teach me to pray bold prayers focused on your ministry and your people growing in relationship with you and each other.