Prayer for Godly Zeal

Father, help us to have faith in Your provision for spiritual growth, assured that Your power is sufficient for us as believers.  We strive to be all You Father, want us to be.  “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”
(2 Peter 1:3).

Let us give diligence to make our salvation sure by developing Christian character as we wait for Your Son's return.  “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).

Heavenly Father help us to trust in Your Word, consistently relying on the trustworthiness of  the Bible.  “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

Let us know the truth and beware of false teachers, being always on the alert for their appearance among our number.  “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction”           (2 Peter 2:1).

Let us serve You for the right reasons, for false teachers who arise in the fellowship of believers will be morally degenerate in character and conduct.  “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness”  (2 Peter 2:15).

Teach us to value genuine faith.  a person's conduct is controlled by who they are by nature.  “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:22).

Help us to learn to respond the right way to Your longsuffering by witnessing, knowing those skeptics who deny Christ’s return don’t understand God’s longsuffering.  “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”                  (2 Peter 3:9).

Father show us how to evaluate our spiritual growth in light of eternity, because we must look forward to the Day of the Lord by living a godly lifestyle.  “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).

Lord, You have taught us to walk in truth and love measured by the Scriptures, for a believer’s walk in truth includes refusing to accept or support false teachers.  “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (2 John 8).

Teach us to lead with love, not selfishness, for godly leaders are characterized by love and selflessness.  “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God” (3 John 11).

Help us to learn what it means to contend for the faith, for You have shown us that we must be zealous in contending for and living out the faith.   “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).

Father, we as Your children need to know how false teachers think and act as they do, for false teachers are a threat to believers, help us by Your grace to reject false teachers and their ways.  “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves” (Jude 10).

Have mercy on us that we may live with distinction as believers, for Christians are to live distinctive lives in Christ Jesus.  “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20, 21). Amen!

Prayer of Bible Based Assurance

Father, we know from Your Word that You desire Your children to know that we are truly saved, and we are to bare the marks of authentic Christianity ,i.e. understanding biblical truth, obedience to Your will, and sharing Your divine love. (1Jn.5:13)

 We ask that You give us the kind of fellowship that flows out of regular and sincere prayer, humble service, esteeming others more highly than ourselves.  Help us to solve conflicts quickly.  Teach us to maintain fellowship with You, Father, through faithfully studying Your Word, consistent confession of sins, living obediently by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  These qualities strengthen our fellowship with You Lord and others. (1Jn.1:3)

This fellowship is nurtured when sin is honestly confronted, understanding that sin will destroy our intimacy with You.  Help us not to deny sin, but to confess it, help us to see that all are sinners, but that believers have an advocate with You Father, Your Son,  Jesus Christ.  Help me to honestly confront sin in my life. (1Jn.2:2)

Make me a genuine Christian who knows the true God, consistently obeying Your Word, being in Christ and having God’s love perfected in me, loving Your people.  Make this obedience ,  evident to all that I am your disciple. (1Jn.2:6)

Help us to live by the Spirit of God, being careful to love You, following spiritual insight, not the world, centering our focus on God, not self. (1Jn.2:17)

Make us genuine in our acceptance of the Truths that Jesus is the Son of God, that He took on human flesh while remaining truly God, that He was born of a virgin and had no sin nature, that He died on the cross as the perfect, acceptable sacrifice for sin, that He rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.  Help me to abide in and share these biblical truths about my Savior. (1Jn.2:27)

Teach me to practice what being in Christ really means, communicating with You through prayer and Your Word, submitting to Your will by the power of the Holy Spirit, responding to the sure return of Christ with confidence and commitment. (1Jn.3:2)

A true believer’s behavior will match their belief.  Help us to look to Christ as our standard realizing that all sin originates from the Devil.  Jesus has come to destroy the Devil’s work, and that believers are truly God’s children called to live godly lives. (1Jn.3:10)

Genuine love is demonstrated by works, not words, help me to show genuine love for others through daily intercessory prayer, listening to and encouraging others, and serving others as a daily sacrifice to God.  I know by doing this I will fulfill the law of Christ. (1Jn.3:16)

As a true Christian I must be careful to discern between truth and error, affirming that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, knowing those who accept this affirmation are of God and understand God’s truth.  Help me Lord to distinguish with keen insight between truth and error. (1Jn.4;2)

You, Father, have taught me that godly love is demonstrated by love and care for others, not just what I want (epithumia), nor by what feels good (eros), nor by what I am obligated to do (storge), not even just what a friend is for (philia), but by what I can give (agape), loving others with a sacrificial love. (1Jn.4:16)

Your Word teaches that faith in Christ overcomes the world, trusting Him for victory just as we have trusted Him for our salvation, receiving power for victory through the Holy Spirit who empowers us as we put our faith in God.  This we know that the world is powerless to overcome the believer who is empowered through faith in Christ. (1Jn.5:4)

Father, You have given confidence for life which comes from knowing Christ.  Continue to give us assurance that the struggles we face against sin are worth it,  that Your power will ultimately do away with all of life’s struggles, that You are available at any moment through prayer, that You want to hear and answer our prayers, giving us hope because You respond with grace that is sufficient for all our struggles.  Father, give us boldness because we have access to Your wisdom, living with that confidence in the face of conflict. (1Jn.5:20)