Praying Through God’s Word: 1 Peter

“An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).

We thank You, our Father, that You have sent Your Holy Spirit to live in our hearts. We thank You that the new life in the Spirit is just the beginning. You are preparing us for the greater ‘glory that will be revealed in us’(Romans 8:18). We thank You that the Holy Spirit is ‘the guarantee of our inheritance’ – He is the starter which whets our appetite for the main course! With Him in our hearts, we long for more. We long for Your glorious future. We’re not staggering along on a dead-end street. We’re walking tall. We’re travelling with You, Lord. You’re leading us on to Your glory. May we always be led by Your Spirit. May we keep on growing in Your Spirit.

1 Peter 1:1-25

What kind of people are we to be? You’re calling us to be holy. You’re calling us to be loving. It’s not holiness without love. It’s not love without holiness. It’s holiness. It’s love. This, Lord, is the life You’re calling us to live. Help us to walk with You in holiness and love.

1 Peter 2:1-25

We thank You, Lord for the great privilege of being Your people – we “have received mercy.” It’s also a great responsibility – we are to “declare Your wonderful deeds.” You’ve “called us out of darkness into Your marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9-10). What a privilege! What a responsibility! Help us, Lord, to come to You with the attitude of gratitude. Help us to go to the world with a commitment to care and a desire to share.

1 Peter 3:1-4:6

What matters most to us? Are we content with keeping up appearances? There’s something more important than this. Get the heart right. That’s what You’re saying to us. “In your hearts, reverence Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15). Give to us, Lord, a new way of thinking, Your way of thinking – “a tender heart and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8).

1 Peter 4:7-5:14

Help us, Lord, to worship You. Help us to say, “To You, Lord, be the glory and the power for ever and ever” (1 Peter 4:11; 1 Peter 5:11). Deliver us from a “form of religion which denies Your power” – “These people honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me” (2 Timothy 3:5; Matthew 15:8). Help us to pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).