May God Do It Wilderness Wanderings

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

Paul more often does this: pauses to pray in the middle of a letter marking a pivot between what came before and what comes after—like he does with that famous prayer in the middle of Ephesians. He does so here too—after this prayer, Paul will turn to questions of living out the faith that has been found and kept by the Thessalonians, and now prayed for too.
Yesterday, Pastor Michael wrote: “Despite Satan’s efforts to derail the work of the gospel, the church continues to grow. Persecution cannot ruin the movement of the Spirit.”  This is indeed Paul’s conviction.  Timothy’s report provided evidence of God at work, and now Paul prays for even more.
While Satan’s blocking, tempting schemes loomed large at the beginning of this section, it seems the rising dawn of God’s presence and providence has chased these shadows away.  Not that there aren’t still shadows when the sun is shining—there are.  Satan remains at work in the dark and shadowy places, but God’s work is stronger.  Far stronger.  Paul is confident of this and his prayer says so.
Paul prays in a strong sort of wish.  The grammar says: I pray for this and expect it to happen.  Throughout the rest of the letter, you certainly get that idea.  Paul will, in just a few short verses start encouraging and filling up in the Thessalonian’s faith the exact things he prays for here.  For their love, their holiness, and their hope in Christ’s second coming.  
But God’s work is first.  So Paul prays.  He prays, though Satan has blocked the way, that God himself and Lord the Lord Jesus will clear the way.  He prays that the love that he has for the Thessalonians and they for one another will not just increase, but will overflow—and not just within the community, but out to everyone else around them including their enemies and persecutors.  Finally, he prays that God will strengthen their hearts so that they will continue to be able to stand firm against the temptations and the persecutions, so that they will be blameless and holy—totally set apart for God—with a hope anchored firmly in the knowledge of Jesus coming again. 
May that be our prayer as well, and May God accomplish this in each of us today.  May your love increase.  May your way be cleared.  May you stand firm and steady in faith, being blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when the Lord Jesus comes with all his Saints.
As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you! (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24,28 The Message).