Sometimes when it’s hard to pray, one of the simplest things to do is go to one of the prayers written in the Scriptures. In this one, Paul is praying for the people in the congregation in the city of Philippi. As you read this simple prayer today, this is my prayer for you, and also ask God who in your life might be in need of you to pray this for them…
Philippians 1:9-11 ESV
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
I also like to read things in different translations, for example the Amplified Bible tends to use more words to fully encompass the meaning of the original language in which the Bible was written. Our English words rarely do justice to the rich meanings of the Greek (as in the New Testament) and Hebrew (of the Old Testament). Here is the same verse in the Amplified version of the Bible:
Philippians 1:9-11 AMP
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, 10 so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin]; 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].