Praying for Christ's Increase and Our Decrease: Surrendering to His Will and Ex

Praying for Christ's Increase and Our Decrease

John the Baptist, one of the most prominent figures in the Bible, had a deep understanding of the importance of Christ's increase and our decrease. He proclaimed, "He must increase, but I must decrease," which is one of the most profound statements of humility and surrender in the Bible (John 3:30). John's heart was filled with joy as he witnessed Jesus's influence eclipsing his own. In this article, we will explore the importance of Christ's increase and our decrease and how we can pray for it.

The Significance of Christ's Increase and Our Decrease

Christ's increase and our decrease are two sides of the same coin. As we decrease, Christ increases in our lives. When we allow Christ to increase, we are acknowledging that He is Lord and that we are His servants. When we decrease, we are surrendering our will, desires, and ambitions to Him. We are no longer the center of our lives; Christ is.

As we decrease, we also become more like Christ. We die to ourselves and become alive in Christ (Galatians 2:20). We put off our old self and put on our new self in Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24). We become more humble, more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, and more patient (Galatians 5:22-23). We become more like the One we follow.

Christ's increase and our decrease also have a profound impact on our relationships with others. As we become more like Christ, we become better spouses, parents, friends, and neighbors. We love others as Christ loved us (John 15:12). We serve others as Christ served us (Mark 10:45). We forgive others as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). We become a blessing to others as Christ blessed us.

Prayers for Christ's Increase and Our Decrease

Praying for Christ's increase and our decrease is essential for our spiritual growth and development. Here are some prayers we can pray:

Prayer for Surrender

Dear Lord, I surrender my life to You. I acknowledge that You are Lord, and I am Your servant. Help me to die to myself and become alive in You. Help me to put off my old self and put on my new self in You. Help me to become more humble, more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, and more patient. Help me to become more like You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Humility

Dear Lord, help me to be humble. Help me to see myself as You see me. Help me to acknowledge my weaknesses and my need for You. Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Help me to consider others better than myself. Help me to serve others as You served us. Help me to love others as You loved us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Obedience

Dear Lord, help me to be obedient to You. Help me to obey Your commands, Your Word, and Your Spirit. Help me to follow Your will for my life. Help me to trust You and Your promises. Help me to walk in faith and not in fear. Help me to glorify You in all that I do. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Love

Dear Lord, help me to love others as You loved us. Help me to love my family, my friends, my neighbors, and my enemies. Help me to love them with Your love, which is patient, kind, not self-seeking, not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Help me to love them sacrificially, as You loved us. Help me to be a blessing to them, as You blessed us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

The Benefits of Christ's Increase and Our Decrease

Christ's increase and our decrease have many benefits. Here are some of them:

1. We Experience More Joy

When we allow Christ to increase in our lives, we experience more joy. Joy is not based on our circumstances but on our relationship with Christ. As we become more like Christ, we experience more of His joy, which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

2. We Have More Peace

When we allow Christ to increase in our lives, we have more peace. Peace is not the absence of problems but the presence of Christ. As we become more like Christ, we experience more of His peace, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

3. We Become More Effective Witnesses

When we allow Christ to increase in our lives, we become more effective witnesses. Our lives become a testimony of Christ's love, grace, and power. People see Christ in us and are drawn to Him (Matthew 5:16).

4. We Grow Spiritually

When we allow Christ to increase in our lives, we grow spiritually. We become more mature in our faith, more knowledgeable of His Word, and more sensitive to His Spirit. We bear fruit that glorifies Him (John 15:8).

5. We Receive Eternal Rewards

When we allow Christ to increase in our lives, we receive eternal rewards. We store up treasures in heaven that will never fade away (Matthew 6:19-20). We will receive a crown of righteousness for our faithfulness to Him (2 Timothy 4:8).

Conclusion

Christ's increase and our decrease are essential for our spiritual growth and development. As we allow Christ to increase in our lives, we become more like Him, experience more joy and peace, become more effective witnesses, grow spiritually, and receive eternal rewards. Let us pray for Christ's increase and our decrease and surrender our lives to Him.