To start with, lets learn what we can from the prayers of Paul mentions in some of his letters. In Ephesians and Colossians Paul prays for spiritual knowledge….
Ephesians 1:15-23
15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 3: 11-19
11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Colossians 1:8-11
8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
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These three prayers sort of sum up Paul’s understanding of “abiding in Christ.” As you make these prayers your own, and pray similar prayers often, God will bring changes to your heart that move you toward Christ-likeness.
From Paul’s example, we learn that we can ask God for the following:
1. Hope and the understanding of God’s purpose for your life
2. Knowledge of the amazing plans God has for your eternity
3. Experience/knowledge of God’s power within the Believer
4. Personal spiritual strength
5. Jesus living in our hearts by faith
6. Extensive comprehension of Jesus’ love
7. The fullest possible experience of God’s presence
8. A comprehensive understanding of God’s will
9. The ability to apply spiritual widsom and understanding
10. To live a life worthy of Jesus’ Name
11. To be pleasing to God in every detail of your life
12 Bearing fruit (spiritual success) in all your efforts
13. An ongoing increase in your knowledge of God
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Before we get to the specific details of prayers that relate to cross-bearing, I thought that you needed to know what successful cross-bearing looks like. As you learn to make these requests an onging part of your prayer life, the cross-bearing process will begin by itself without you even realizing it. Stay with this a few weeks. Don’t be in a hurry. Maybe you could write some model prayers related to each of these items and post them to the Guestbook.