Category: Prayer

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians

August 23, 2024

For my devotions I am moving on to the Book of Philippians. This is one of the letters Paul wrote to the churches while he was in prison in Rome.

The first reading comes from Philippians 1:3-11. This section is titled, “Paul’s thanksgiving and prayer”. In this section two main things stood out for me.

Paul’s joy with the Philippians

Verses 3 says, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God”.

The Philippians give Paul special joy because they have been his partners in the Gospel. They have shared with him from the day they first heard about Christ until the day of writing.

Paul has a real love for the Philippians because they believed in the message of salvation and continued steadfastly in it. They took it so seriously that they partnered in his work – in prayer, encouragement and financially.

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians

In verse 9 Paul says, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding”.

Paul wanted them to continue to grow in their faith and be blessed by God. He prayed they would have full understanding of the things of God, be pure and blameless in their walk with the Lord and be filled with the fruit of salvation.

Paul really loved the Philippians. He was like a spiritual father to them as he planted the church at Philippi on his second missionary journey. This is why he experienced so much joy, prayed for them and wanted the best for them.

I am really looking forward to continuing through the book of Philippians and seeing what lessons I can learn afresh.

He will, we will

August 8, 2024

John 14:1-4 NLT – “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. [2] There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? [3] When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.”

In John 14 Jesus is speaking to the disciples about His going away. He gives them comfort and reassurance that in time they will be together again.

In verse 3 Jesus shares one of the great truths of the Bible. Jesus is preparing our eternal home and once it is ready and the time is right, He will come back for us.

I love the wording He uses – He will and we will. He WILL come back for us and we WILL be with Him forever.

This is the great hope we have in this life. That no matter what we see around us in the world, no matter how bad things seem to be, Jesus IS coming back for us.

With this hope in our hearts, we should not be troubled. We just need to trust in God and wait. He WILL come back at the appointed time, and we WILL be with Him forever.

Prayer

Thank You Jesus that You are preparing a place for us. Thank You that You will come back for us. Please help us to be resolute in our faith and trust in You. Help us to hold on to this great truth that we will spend eternity with You. Amen.

Go and act

August 1, 2024

I heard this saying today afresh. I know I have heard it before, but this time it struck a chord in my heart…

“The Books of Acts would not have been written if the Apostles did not go and act”.

Imagine if after Pentecost came and the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers, that they decided to just stay home. Imagine how different our world would be?

We would not have a Book of Acts as an example and a teaching. We would not have heard about the amazing miracles. We would not have heard about the growth of the early church.

This simple saying emphasised to me afresh the importance of going and acting. Of taking the truth of the Gospel message out in to the world and sharing it with others.

When we go and act people are saved. When we go and act miracles happen and lives are changed. When we go and act eternal destinies are changed.

Prayer

Dear God, please help me to go and act. Your Word says the harvest fields are ripe. Send me to the people who need You today. Amen.

(Image: https://www.freebibleimages.org)

35 years of following Jesus

July 21, 2024

Thirty five years ago today I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I always celebrate this day like it was my birthday because it was the day that changed my life forever.

I am very lucky in a sense as I know the day and time I came to faith in Jesus. I know because I read a tract called, “A journey in to life” and I wrote the date and time on it.

I would love to say that I still had it, but being evangelistically inclined I gave it to someone who I was sharing my faith with. I said this pamphlet changed my life, I hope it will change yours too.

Usually on this day I look back and remember what my life was like before Jesus and how it has changed for the better. I reflect on how I felt before I prayed the prayer above and how I felt afterwards.

It is my hope and prayer that as you read this post that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If not I would encourage you to visit my finding salvation page here.