FRIDAY August 16, 2024
A Heartfelt Prayer
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ....
Philippians 1:3-6
Paul prayed with joy and rejoiced that God had him in this situation––under house arrest. He was not unhappy; he rejoiced! Paul understood God had him under house arrest for a greater purpose. He was an incredible man and so powerful every time he spoke or penned an epistle.
Paul had no self-pity because of his predicament. He was not concerned for himself, but for others. He was not self-centered; He was God- centered––selfless. Paul was a giver by nature, not a receiver. Look how personal Paul was in prayer toward those he loved in Christ. In verses 3-9, notice how many times he said “you or your:”
Verse 3: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you...”
Verse 4: “... making request for you all with joy...”
Verse 5: “...for your fellowship in the gospel...”
Verse 6: “He [God] who has begun a good work in you will complete it.”
Verse 7: “just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart...”
Verse 8: “...how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”
Verse 9: “I pray, that your love may abound....”
Do you see how Paul affectionately prayed for the people he had ministered to? He gave himself first to God and then to others until there was nothing else left to give, because he would die for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you pray, are you always praying for yourself? How about making a change? Ask God to give you His heart for people and begin to pray for them as well.
In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.
~John Bunyan~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
