Pray With Joy!

By

Shelby G. Floyd

 


 

 

Christian people should pray with joy. In order to do this we must create a good memory of our work in Christ. Then when other Christians remember us they will thank God and pray for us with joy. The church at Philippi cre­ated a good memory of their work in the mind of Paul. When he penned a letter to them he said, “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” (Phil. 1:4-5).

 

The reason Paul remembered them with joy was be­cause of their partnership in the gospel from the first day until the time he wrote the letter. Their partnership in the gospel began with the conversion of Lydia and her house­hold: “And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.  Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.  And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. So she persuaded us” (Acts 16:13-15, NKJV). After Lydia was baptized, she im­mediately started doing things that Christians should do. (Acts 16:15-16). Also the conversion of the jailor pre­sented another member to fellowship Paul in his evangelis­tic work. (Acts 16:29-34).

 

When Paul left Macedonia, Philippi was the only church that shared with Paul in the partnership of giving and receiving. They sent him aid again and again. (Philippians 4: 14-16).

 

No wonder that Paul could remember them with thanks and joy when he prayed to God. May God help all of us to find the joy that is found in Christ Jesus and the way of life God would have us to live. Remember, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Again, Paul declares, “Rejoice in the Lord al­ways. I will say it again: Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4)! Copyright © 2011 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved