Joy in Prayer
Philippians 1:1-11
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now..."(PHILIPPIANS 1:3-5)
One of the great joys we know as Christians is praying for each other. Paul begins his letter to the church in Philippi with words about the joy it is to pray for them because of the partnership they share through Jesus Christ.
Do you "pray with joy"? It's easy for our prayers to be focused on the needs, tragedies, and heartaches in our lives and those we pray for. Sometimes prayer only comes when an unexpected catastrophe or daunting challenge faces us, and we run to God in desperation. Where is the joy in prayer then?
Thankfully, God listens to and regards our desperate cries as much as our praises and words of thanks. He loves to hear us! Paul prayed with joy, remembering how he and his Philippian friends shared in the good news of Jesus. When we remember that we are partners in the Gospel with people around the world, our hearts turn to joy. Even if you are a new believer, there is probably someone in your life who is a Christ-follower who knows and understands the joy you both share in Jesus.
INSIGHT
YOU CAN TRUST THAT WHENEVER GOD IS READY TO DO SOMETHING NEW WITH HIS PEOPLE, HE WILL SET THEM PRAYING.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Chronicles 7-8
Psalm 11
Matthew 16-17
Philippians 1:1-11
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers[a] and deacons:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Footnotes:
a. Philippians 1:1 Traditionally bishops
1 Samuel 12:16-24
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 “Now stand here and see the great thing the Lord is about to do. 17 You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the Lord to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the Lord for a king!”
18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the Lord and of Samuel. 19 “Pray to the Lord your God for us, or we will die!” they all said to Samuel. “For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.”
20 “Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him. 21 Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless! 22 The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people.
23 “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.
IS THE GOSPEL RELEVANT? [PART 4]
with Darrell Johnson
Who is Jesus? Who do you think he is? Christians believe he is God incarnate and Savior. But did Jesus of Nazareth ever make such a claim? Did he think he was God?
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