"Let us keep living by the same standard to which we have attained." Philippians 3:16
Paul's standard of living involved death to self. He embraced The Cross, and the death of his way, his will and his wisdom on a daily basis. Others treated The Cross like and enemy. Paul treated it as his best friend. It is where Jesus died for him, and where Paul would go to die.
Paul wept over those who no longer embraced the cross, but but treated it as their worst enemy. It broke his heart that people confused God's patience as God's permission to do as they please.
"They are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their fnappetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. " Philippians 3:18-19
Paul's Roman citizenship was useful to him, as a means to an end, the furthering of The Gospel. It was not an end in itself. What the world offered did not satisfy him. His ultimate citizenship was in Heaven, and while he waited for Christ's return or a reunion with Him in Heaven, Paul sought God's direction, protection and correction of his life through prayer.
Praying and waiting prepared him to be subject to the Lordship of Christ on earth. He longed to be conformed to the character of Christ, and prayer intensified his companionship with Christ. Through prayer, Paul refused to lower The Standard of living on earth while waiting for Heaven.
"For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;" Philippians 3:20
Paul followed the way Jesus taught His disciples to pray.
"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven." - Jesus, Matthew 6:10: (KJV)
Prayer is the means by which a citizen of Heaven, living on earth, maintains intimate communication with The Father. Praying to The Father in "The Name of Jesus" provides access to Him, through His Son and purifies the motives of His children.
Communication with The Father becomes intermittent, when companionship with The Son is no longer intimate. Prayerless Christians are not merely misrepresentations of the truth, they are an embarrassment to The Truth.
When The Father's children are not on speaking terms with The Son, they are rebellious children. They may claim to have a family relationship and wear the name of Jesus on their clothing and their jewelry, but they bear little resemblance to the character of Christ. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice." Don't be one of the black sheep of the family. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!