1. 2 Thessalonians 1:1,2 (all quotes NASB)
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In essence he is acknowledging that they have within them the grace/peace that can only come from our Creator and the author of our salvation, Jesus Christ.

2. 2 Thessalonians 1:1,2
This is God’s grace is an example for us to follow – a life which lives with forgiveness from humility (Rom 5:8 died while sinners)
This is God’s Peace - a contentment and acceptance that comes from God – the cares and worries of this world are not paramount in our minds; our focus is “other worldly” (kingdom) (content in all things)
HOW? Col 3:1-3 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God

3. 2 Thess 1:1-3 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged (growing more & more), and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;

4. 2 Thessalonians 1:3
* 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged(growing more & more), and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
Paul opens his letter to them with thanksgiving as he does with most of his letters
His thanksgiving has to do with their growing faith.
How much of our thanksgiving is oriented on things in this world vs spiritual world things?
Our prayer priorities = our life’s priorities.

5. 2 Thess 1:3 He thanks God that their faith is growing
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
He thanks God that their faith is growing
A. He is thankful that they are allowing God to work in their lives – HE is the one behind it, at the cause, of their growing faith; they are opening themselves to the Spirit indwelling and filling that is available to all that seek it. (grace/peace is God given)
B. He is alluding to their fulfillment of Rom 12:1,2 “present yourselves a living and holy sacrifice – being transformed by the renewing of their minds.

6. John 13:34,  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Faith and love is growing – apparently with an abundance of evidence in their lives.

7. 4) AND we pray the same for OURSELVES!
So when we are praying – how might we focus our prayers?
1) We enter into our communion with God with extreme appreciation for many factors in our life.(a,b,c…)
2) For others we pray that they find the grace and peace that comes from God, e.g. humility/contentment
3) We pray that they find the path, such as prayer/study/discipline, in order to receive these qualities in their lives – grace/peace/growing faith & love
4) AND we pray the same for OURSELVES!

8. The content of our prayers:
THANKFUL
PEACE
GRACE
FAITH
LOVE
SERVICE
KNOWLEDGE
OBEDIENCE = a blessed life!!!

9. 2 Thess 1:4
4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 
HOW do they do this – thru their peace/grace/faith/love
NOTICE – no prayer request for the removal of persecutions / afflictions but rather boasting to others about their perseverance and faith with these things
WHY is this something to be proud of? A) Such actions speak loudly about the way the grace of God is working in their lives and is being proclaimed like the light set on a hilltop (all men will know)

10. 2 Thess 1:4
4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure
HOW? B) James 1:  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (not to remove)

11. James 1:  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Lacking in Nothing = Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth; for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (mindset)

12. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Lacking in Nothing = Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth; for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (OJT program)
WHY pray for wisdom here? See above – a difficult task without God / Holy Spirit Rom 12 “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice - transformed by the renewing of your minds”

13. 2 Thess 1:4
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

14. The Content of our Prayers:
Thankful * Peace * Grace * Faith *Love * Service * Living Example * Joy
So from these verses we can gather that when we are praying we are praying for ourselves and for others that:
1) When we pray we enter into our communion with God with extreme appreciation for many factors in our life.
2) Our/their life is open to His will and find the grace and peace and love that He wants for us.
3) We pray that our/their lives are open and available for God to work in and through – our direction is heaven driven. (Faithful & in Service)
4) When we pray we ask that we find the path, such as prayer/study/discipline, to be blessed from God with these qualities in their lives (living example)
5) We pray that God begins to work in our lives – our internal lives not “this world’s” life. We do not pray just for health and jobs but for our internal acceptance of the situation and the growth of our faith/trust.
6) We pray that our walk with God will grow and bring about an outward growth of joy and love for people