Praying for Full Restoration: 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 and 13:1-10
Karen McLain
Praying for Full Restoration: 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 and 13:1-10
“For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be…our prayer is that you may be fully restored.” 2 Corinthians 12:20 and 13:9b
What are your prayers for people? I confess that many of my prayers are about physical healing, comfort during illness, peace during struggles. Paul’s prayers for the Corinthians were about overcoming sin. He feared that there would be discord, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, disorder, arrogance, impurity, sexual sin, and debauchery, and he took those fears to God. “We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong,” he wrote. “Our prayer is that you may be fully restored.” When he saw them again, he didn’t want to need to convince them of their sin and need for repentance. He wanted to be able to celebrate what God was doing, and to build them up. And so he prayed for God to be at work.
I think we need to be more bold in our prayers. So often, I have quoted Psalm 110:1. “The Lord says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” It is the Old Testament verse that is quoted most in the New Testament. Why? Because it is about Christ reigning over all, and we are invited into that reign. Read Ephesians 1:18-23 and 2:6-8.
Do you think Christ is only seeking to reign over physical and emotional illness and needs? No, Christ came to deliver the world from sin, as well as death. If we see sin cropping up in another believer, let’s pray about it, that the Holy Spirit who is in them would overcome. If we want reconciliation in relationships, for forgiveness, let’s pray. If we want someone we know to know Jesus, let’s pray. If we want more love in the world, more justice, more mercy, let’s pray.
There is a lot to pray for. Don’t let that stop you in your tracks. It does me way too often. I can come up with many reasons not to spend time each day praying for others and the Church and the world. Time is one of them. But there is probably nothing more important. There is very little that I can do to change other people or the world outside, or even inside me, but there is nothing God can’t do. That’s why prayer is important. It’s not only about drawing close to God, it is about inviting God’s power and deliverance into our world. “I just prayed,” I am prone to say. But prayer is not a just. Prayer is a must. And it is a must not only when it comes to overcoming illness, finding jobs and housing, and the many physical needs of our lives. It is a must for overcoming sin and the many ways our world rebels against God, and hurts God, one another, and ourselves.
Please know that intercessory prayer can be accompanied by an incredible awareness of God’s presence. But it isn’t always an amazing experience. Sometimes it feels dry and uninspired and like work. Either way, we should pray and pray regularly and often.
PRAYER: God, I repent for not praying more, and for not praying against sin. Put on my heart what and who you want me to pray for………………..(Pray for them). I now bring others on my prayer list before you……………..In addition, I pray for these to come to know you……………I pray for these to know the fullness of your Holy Spirit………. I pray for ____________ to overcome the sin of ______________________. I pray that _____________________ are not falling into sins of ______________________ or any other sin. I pray against the sins of __________________ in my own life. I thank you God, that you rule over all, and that includes sins, hurts, habits, and hangups. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.
SONG: Sweet Hour of Prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz5pD6C9h-w Could we make a commitment to spend one hour a day in prayer? What about 15 minutes? What about 5 minutes? What about two minutes twice a day? Start somewhere. If you are already praying regularly, consider how can your prayer life even more fully reflect the heart of Jesus. What would full restoration of ourselves, our family, our friends, our Church, our world look like?