Our devotional in Paul’s prayers and prayer reports continues!
Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Once again, Paul begins a letter with thansksgiving – giving thanks for people, the church of believers at Philippi, rather than for things.
I love the phrase ‘in all my prayers for all of you,’ because it gives a glimpse of the expansiveness of Paul’s heart – he is praying all kinds of prayers for them, and not just for them as an anonymous plural, but as individuals (each one of you).
He prays for them with joy because they are partners in the Gospel. Jesus has been at work in them, is at work in them, and will be at work in them. So often we forget to pray and give thanks for the people who are not a problem and don’t have particularly intense problems. But God deserves praise for the families and people who just quietly serve, who keep following God through the dailyness of life and who focus on encouraging others.
Can you think of a few folks like that and give thanks with joy?
Thank you (by Ray Boltz)
