A Life-Changing Pastoral Prayer

Paul's first section of this very personal and warm letter comes to a close with a pastoral prayer for the young church. Chapter 3 brought us some insight into the passionate longings of Paul's heart for the Christians in Thessalonica. Paul was a man gripped by the concerns and needs of the people to whom he ministered. He was also supremely aware of the One who ultimately supplied their needs. What Paul longed for, he then prayed for and asked God to "work in and work out" in their lives. Now at the end of chapter three, we see Paul so tuned into God and his dependence upon His grace, he leads right into a pastoral prayer for the church!