Sunday Prayer: Contend for the Faith

Based on Jude 1:1–4

Gracious Father,

Thank You for calling us, loving us, and keeping us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In a world filled with confusion and compromise, anchor us in Your truth.

Help us remember who we are—Your chosen people, deeply loved and eternally secure in Your care.

Lord, give us eyes to see the urgency of our time.

Where deception seeps into the Church, awaken us to stand firm.

Make us bold, not with arrogance, but with conviction shaped by compassion.

Let our lives echo the Gospel we profess—pure, unshaken, and centered on King Jesus.

Help us recognize false teaching, no matter how subtle.

Guard our hearts from using Your grace as an excuse for sin.

Keep us from watering down Your truth for the sake of comfort or acceptance.

Fill us with wisdom to discern error and courage to speak truth in love.

We pray for Your Church—raise up defenders of the faith in this generation.

Men and women who will live with integrity, teach with clarity, and reflect Jesus with humility.

May we never forget that we are not only saved—we are entrusted with the faith once delivered to the saints.

Strengthen us, Lord, to live faithfully,

To love fiercely,

And to stand unwavering in Your truth.

In the mighty name of Jesus our Savior and King,

Amen.

The Power of Prayer in a Hustle-Driven World

In today’s relentless rush, life feels like a treadmill set to sprint. We chase success, juggle endless responsibilities, and measure our worth by what we achieve. Work, family, and social demands pull us in every direction, and in this storm of hustle, one simple practice often slips away: prayer.

R. A. Torrey, in his classic work The Power of Prayer, saw this coming. “We do not live in a praying age,” he wrote. “We live in an age of hustle and bustle, of man’s efforts and man’s determination, of man’s confidence in himself and in his own power to achieve things.” He described a world driven by human machinery and ambition—a world where trusting God’s power feels like a relic. If anything, his words hit harder now, as our culture doubles down on self-reliance.

So why does prayer still matter? It’s not a magic fix or a wishlist for God to rubber-stamp. Prayer is a lifeline—a moment of raw connection where we lay down our pride and seek divine wisdom. When we pause to pray, we admit we don’t have it all figured out. We invite God to guide us through life’s chaos, trusting His perspective over our plans.

But prayer isn’t just personal. It’s a bridge to others. When we lift up a friend in crisis, a family member in need, or even a stranger we’ll never meet, we step outside ourselves. We carry their burdens to God, asking for His grace to touch their lives. In a me-first world, this act of intercession is quietly radical—a rebellion against selfishness dressed up as love.

Our society celebrates the grind: the promotions, the accolades, the packed schedules. Prayer flips that script. It whispers that true worth isn’t in what we do, but in who we are—children of God, called to faith and compassion. When we stop to pray, we trade the noise of ambition for something eternal. We realign with what lasts: our bond with God and the people He’s placed around us.

Torrey’s warning doesn’t have to be our story. We can choose differently. By weaving prayer into our days—whether in a quiet morning moment or a whispered plea amid the storm—we tap into God’s strength. We find peace for ourselves and pour it out for others. In an age that idolizes effort, prayer is our defiance: a reminder that real power doesn’t come from us, but from Him.

So let’s reclaim it. Let’s step off the treadmill, look beyond the grind, and rediscover the stillness where God waits. In prayer, we don’t just find answers—we find purpose. And that’s a victory no hustle can touch.

Living Prayer

“To pray for one another as individuals or communities implies that we shall assist one another in every way for which we pray for one another; otherwise our prayers and thanksgivings for each other are mere hypocrisy.” – Alexander Campbell, The Christian System

Our actions are an extension of our prayers; they bring to life the intentions we express in our talking to God. Prayer is more than words said in solitude—it is a call to align our hearts with God’s will and to step into the world as His hands and feet. I believe it is crucial to ponder the connection between prayer and intention, the importance of backing our words with deeds, and the transformation that emerges in us and our communities when faith moves from an ideal to reality.

I. Understanding the Essence of Prayer

Prayer is both a spiritual and relational act. We see this in Paul’s instruction found in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” 

Through prayer, we lay our hopes, fears, and desires before God, aligning our hearts with His purpose. It’s an act of trust, a declaration that we believe in His power to work in our lives and the lives of others.

Yet prayer is not solitary—it binds us to one another. James 5:16 urges, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” When we pray for our neighbors, friends, or even strangers, we lovingly pray for those around us, people in our community, lifting up their needs as if they were our own.

II. The Disconnect Between Words and Actions

Alexander Campbell’s words ring with a sobering truth: prayer without action risks becoming hypocrisy. Jesus warned against empty words in Matthew 6:7-8, saying that God sees through mindless repetitions and desires the right motivation and intention. Too often, we pray for the hungry but pass by opportunities to feed them, or we ask for peace but do little to mend broken relationships. This disconnect undermines the power of our prayers.

The apostle John drives this home in 1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” If we pray for someone’s healing but never offer a helping hand, or if we seek justice but stay silent in the face of wrong, our prayers become hollow echoes—lacking the substance of genuine faith.

III. How Actions Fulfill Prayers

Prayer and action are two sides of the same coin, a partnership in co-laboring with God. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God doesn’t merely hear our prayers—He invites us to participate in answering them.

Scripture offers vivid examples. Nehemiah prayed fervently for Jerusalem’s restoration, then rose to lead its rebuilding (Nehemiah 2:4-8). The Good Samaritan, in Luke 10:25-37, didn’t just wish well for the wounded man—he bandaged his wounds, carried him to safety, and paid for his care. These stories show that acting on our prayers breathes life into our faith. As James 2:26 declares, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

IV. Practical Ways to Act on Prayers

So how do we bridge the gap between prayer and action? Start with the causes you lift up in prayer. If you pray for the homeless, volunteer at a shelter or donate resources. If you pray for a struggling friend, follow up with a call, a meal, or a listening ear. If justice or equality weighs on your heart, advocate for change in your community.

Even small, daily actions matter. Galatians 6:2 encourages us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” A kind word, a shared resource, or a moment of service can turn your prayers into living expressions of love. The key is consistency—letting your deeds reflect the hopes you’ve placed before God.

V. The Transformative Power of Prayer and Action

When prayer and action unite, they deepen our faith and reshape our world. Jesus teaches in Matthew 25:35-40 that serving the hungry, the stranger, and the imprisoned is serving Him—a powerful reminder that our actions carry eternal weight. In Acts 2:42-47, the early Christians prayed together, shared their possessions, and built a community marked by unity and growth. Their faith wasn’t passive; it was alive, vibrant, and transformative.

This combination reflects God’s love to the world. As 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” When we pray and act, we become conduits of His grace, strengthening both ourselves and those around us.

Conclusion

Alexander Campbell’s insight challenges us: our prayers for one another must be more than words—they must spark action. Prayer connects us to God’s will, action fulfills its purpose, and together they transform lives and communities. As you reflect on your own prayers, ask yourself: How can my actions bring them to life? 

Let Micah 6:8 guide you: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” In the union of prayer and action, we find the heartbeat of a living faith.

Paul’s Ponderings
Reflecting on the truth that transforms.

Lessons from the King: Our Good Father

 Imagine this: In November 1844, George Mueller, a Victorian-era Christian known for his care of orphans, began praying for the conversion of five individuals. He didn’t just toss up a quick prayer and call it a day. No, he prayed for them every single day—whether he was sick or healthy, at home or on the road, swamped with work or free.

Eighteen months later, the first came to faith. Mueller thanked God and kept praying. Five years after that, the second was converted. Six more years passed before the third found Christ. Still, two remained—sons of a friend—unconverted. Did Mueller give up? Not a chance. He kept praying daily, trusting God’s goodness.

Thirty-six years into this journey, he wrote, “They are not converted yet, but they will be.” And in 1897—fifty-two years after he began, and after Mueller himself had gone to be with the Lord—those final two men gave their lives to Christ.

What fueled such relentless prayer? Mueller knew God as a good Father—one who hears, who cares, and who gives good gifts, even if the answers take a lifetime to unfold.

That’s the heartbeat of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:7-12. Because God is our good Father, we can ask boldly, seek persistently, and trust Him fully—both for ourselves and for the way we love others.

Living as Citizens of the Kingdom

In this series, Lessons from the King, we’ve been unpacking Jesus’ proclamation that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. He didn’t just announce it; He taught us what it means to live as citizens of that Kingdom. That is what the Sermon on the Mount is about.

And here’s the thing: citizenship isn’t about following a checklist of rules out of fear of punishment. You can obey laws and still not be loyal. True righteousness—true citizenship—flows from a transformed heart, a heart loyal to King Jesus. That’s what matters.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus keeps circling back to the condition of our hearts. We’ll live righteous lives if our hearts are good—but how do we get there? As He nears the end of this teaching, that’s the question He’s tackling: How can we have transformed hearts?

Let’s walk through Matthew 7:7-12 to find out, starting with the middle section—verses 9-11—because it’s the key that unlocks the rest.

God Is Our Good Father (vv. 9-11)

Jesus asks a simple question: “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?”

If you’re a parent, you feel this in your bones. Love compels us to give our kids what they need—and often what they want, too. It hurts when we can’t. But let’s be honest: we’re also selfish. Sometimes we don’t want to be bothered, or we prioritize our own desires. There’s a conflict of interests inside us.

Now compare that to God. Jesus says, “How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?”

If we, flawed as we are, can provide for our kids out of love, how much more can we trust God to provide for us? He doesn’t have that inner conflict—He loves us fully and desires what’s best for us.

I was reminded of this recently with our car troubles. We had front axle issues and an air sensor issue. After getting the axle issues fixed, the main display screen announced we needed to insert the Maps DVD. But the DVD was inserted, and now we couldn’t use the radio or the back-up camera. As I was taking it back to the Mechanic I heard a sound, I opened up the DVD player and the Maps DVD came out. I reinserted it, and it reinstalled. At that moment it hit me: I could trust God to provide for us. He’s not distant or stingy. He’s not waiting to condemn us—He sent Jesus to save us, to show us mercy, to bring us into His Kingdom. We can put our faith in Him because He’s a good Father.

We Can Be Confident in Asking (vv. 7-8)

With that in mind, Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.”

This kind of boldness in prayer was radical in the ancient world. Teachers didn’t go around telling people they could be confident God would answer. But Jesus does—because God is a good Father.

To get this right, we need context. Jesus isn’t handing us a blank check for anything we want. He’s still addressing how we live righteous lives, how holiness flows from our hearts.

In Luke’s parallel account (Luke 11:13), the “good gift” is named as the Holy Spirit—God’s wisdom and power to live as Kingdom citizens. This is what we’re to pray for.

God doesn’t want us independent of Him; He wants us dependent on Him. Unlike parents raising kids to stand on their own, God calls us to mature into deeper reliance on Him.

Dallas Willard put it this way: “We consume the most grace by leading a holy life, upheld by grace—not by continuing to sin and being repeatedly forgiven.”

So what do you need to live as a citizen of the Kingdom? Wisdom? Strength to crucify your flesh? Guidance? Transformation? Ask God for it—boldly—knowing He’ll provide.

We Can Treat Others with Love (v. 12)

Then Jesus ties it all together: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

That “therefore” (missing in some translations) is crucial. Because God is good, we can fulfill the Law and Prophets—not through rules, but through love.

We can be generous because God is generous to us. We can forgive because He’s forgiven us. We can show mercy because He’s shown mercy to us.

Back in verse 2, Jesus warned that the standard we use to judge others will be used on us. So we choose mercy, just as we’d want mercy for ourselves.

How do we live this out? Assume the best about people, not the worst. Maybe they’ve had a bad day, or they’re wrestling with grief, depression, or doubt. Give them the same grace you give yourself when you say, “I lost track of time,” “I’m not feeling well,” or “I didn’t sleep last night.”

A Challenge and a Thought

Take some time this week to meditate on what it means for God to be your good Father. Then ask Him—confidently—for the wisdom or transformation you need.

John Eldredge writes in The Way of the Wild Heart:

“You are the son of a kind, strong, and engaged Father, a Father wise enough to guide you in the Way, generous enough to provide for your journey, offering to walk with you every step. This is perhaps the hardest thing for us to believe—really believe, down deep in our hearts, so that it changes us forever, changes the way we approach each day.”

Do we believe God is our good Father? The more we trust Him, the more we’ll experience transformation in our lives.

Sunday Prayer: Produce the Fruit

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who works within us to make us more like Jesus. Lord, my great desire is to bear the fruit that comes from being guided by the Spirit. Fill my heart with love, that I may love others as You have loved me. Let joy overflow in my life, even in trials, so that I may be a witness of Your goodness. Grant me perfect peace, calming the storms within me and helping me trust in Your will.

Teach me patience, Lord, in every situation and with every person, just as You are patient with me. May kindness and goodness flow from my words and actions, reflecting Your heart to the world. Strengthen my faithfulness, that I may walk in obedience and remain strong in my commitment to You.

Father, help me to be gentle in my responses, showing grace as You have shown grace to me. And give me self-control, that I may resist temptation and choose to live a life of holiness that reflects Your character in the world.

I surrender to the Holy Spirit’s work in my life. Shape me, mold me, and let my life bear fruit that glorifies You. In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

Moving Beyond the Shallow: Deepening Our Prayer Lives

Prayer can often be a source of frustration for me—not just in my own practice, but also when observing how others pray. It’s not that the intentions behind these prayers are wrong. In fact, they are often heartfelt and sincere. Yet at times, the focus seems misplaced and shallow. Perhaps “shallow” isn’t the perfect word, so let me explain.

By “shallow,” I’m referring to how our prayers tend to center on what we can see and touch—physical health, finances, safety, and other tangible concerns. While these are undoubtedly important, I can’t help but feel we often neglect something far greater: the deeper, unseen aspects of our spiritual lives.

Take, for example, Paul’s prayer for the believers in Colossae:

“For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:9–14, CSB)

Notice the content of Paul’s prayer. He doesn’t focus on physical ailments, financial stability, or protection from harm. Instead, his focus is on the spiritual formation of believers. He asks God to fill them with wisdom and spiritual understanding so they can live in a way that honors Jesus. Paul prays for their spiritual growth, strength, and gratitude for God’s blessings.

Paul’s prayer centers entirely on the spiritual reality that shapes their identity and purpose.

Contrast this with the typical prayers we hear during worship or small group gatherings. Most prayers are for physical realities—provision, healing, or safety. Let me be clear: these are entirely appropriate things to pray for. God desires us to bring our daily needs and concerns to Him.

However, the problem arises when we focus exclusively on physical needs at the expense of deeper spiritual realities. When we do that, we risk becoming fixated on the visible, tangible world while ignoring the unseen part of our existence—the part that holds eternal significance.

When people are struggling, it is good and proper to ask God to intervene in their circumstances. This is part of our responsibility as Christians. But we must also remember that spiritual maturity is essential to discipleship. We need to pray for one another’s faith, strength, understanding, and wisdom—these are critical for our spiritual formation.

A question worth pondering is: Why do we often default to praying for the physical rather than the spiritual?

Personally, I’ve struggled with the concept of the spiritual. It has sometimes felt intangible, almost unreal. In a world that often dismisses spiritual matters as mythical or irrelevant, it’s been easy for me to overlook.

Additionally, I once equated “spiritual” with “emotional.” Since I believed emotions were unreliable, I avoided anything I perceived as emotional—including the spiritual dimensions of prayer.

These are just a couple of reasons I’ve gravitated toward praying for the familiar and tangible physical realities of life, while avoiding the deeper spiritual dimensions that are just as important.

I believe the key to revitalizing our prayer life is to shift our focus. What if we intentionally made time in our prayers—both private and public—to pray like Paul did in Colossians 1:9–14?

Instead of focusing solely on healing and provision, we could also pray for God’s wisdom, strength, and transformative power to work in our hearts. Prayer has the potential to reshape our lives, but we must ask for what we truly need to be transformed.

As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

This verse challenges us to prioritize God’s kingdom and spiritual matters over worldly concerns.

Similarly, Romans 8:26–27 reassures us:

“The Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Even when spiritual realities feel distant or unclear, God’s Spirit intercedes on our behalf, guiding our prayers toward what truly matters.

Now is the time to deepen our prayer lives—to move from the shallow end, where we ask only for our physical needs, to the deep end, where we ask God for the spiritual wisdom and understanding we need to represent King Jesus in everything we say and do.

Let’s begin praying in ways that transform not just our circumstances, but also our hearts and lives.

Weekly Prayer Prompts: Be Grateful

Prayer is God’s gift to His people so we can connect with Him, seek His guidance, and find comfort in His presence. Each week, I will provide you with prayer prompts to help you to be more intentional with your prayer time as you seek to follow Jesus. Set aside some quiet time, find a comfortable place, and let these prompts assist you in your prayer time

Monday: Gratitude and Praise
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." - Psalm 100:4

1. Begin your prayer by listing five things you're grateful for today.
2. Reflect on God's goodness in your life and offer Him sincere praise.
3. Thank God for specific blessings you might have taken for granted.

Tuesday: Seeking Forgiveness
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9

1. Spend time in self-reflection, acknowledging any areas where you've fallen short.
2. Ask God for forgiveness and strength to overcome your shortcomings.
3. Pray for the wisdom to make amends with those you might have hurt.

Wednesday: Intercession for Others
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people." - 1 Timothy 2:1

1. Create a list of people who need your prayers—family, friends, colleagues, global issues, etc.
2. Lift up each person or situation in prayer, asking for God's guidance, healing, and comfort.
3. Pray for those who may be struggling with faith, that they may find strength in God.

Thursday: Surrendering Control
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5

1. Reflect on areas of your life where you're holding onto control.
2. Pray for the faith to surrender those areas to God's will.
3. Ask for God's guidance in making decisions and seeking His plan.

Friday: Strength in Difficult Times
"I can do all things through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13

1. Think about a current challenge you're facing and bring it to God in prayer.
2. Ask for strength, courage, and resilience to navigate through the difficulty.
3. Trust in God's promise that He is with you every step of the way.

Saturday: Growing in Faith
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7

1. Pray for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.
2. Ask for a thirst for His Word and a hunger to know Him better.
3. Seek opportunities to serve and grow within your faith community.

Sunday: Communion with God
"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." - Matthew 6:7

1. Pray for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.

2. Ask for a thirst for His Word and a hunger to know Him better.

3. Seek opportunities to serve and grow within your faith community. 

I hope these prayer prompts are helpful as seek to be more consistent in your prayer life. Remember, prayer is a personal and heartfelt conversation with God. Use these prompts as a starting point, but you need to give room to let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts and words. May your journey of faith be strengthened as you seek God's presence through prayer. 

Sunday Prayer: Courage and Boldness

Gracious God, I come before you in humility and with a heart full of faith. I thank you for your goodness and mercy, and for the gift of your Son, Jesus, whose sacrifice secured forgiveness and salvation for me.

Lord, I ask for your strength and courage as I navigate the challenges of this world. I pray for boldness to stand up for what is right and to speak truth in love. I ask for the courage to follow your will, even when it is difficult or unpopular.

Help me to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity, knowing that you are always with me. Give me the courage to step out in faith, trusting that you will guide me and provide for me every step of the way.

Lord, I pray that you would fill me with the Holy Spirit, that I may be empowered to live the life that brings honor and glory to your name. Give me the courage to share your love and grace with those around me, even when it may be uncomfortable or challenging.

Help me to remember that I am not alone, and that you are always with me. May my life be a shining light that points others to you, and may I never waver in my faith or my commitment to your kingdom.

I pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus, who is my strength and shield. Amen.

Prayer and What We Believe about God

 

Prayer is an integral part of the Christian life. Through prayer we communicate with God, seek His guidance, offer thanks and praise, and ask for His intervention in the world.

I believe the way we approach prayer reveals what we truly believe about God.

If we believe that God is distant and uninterested in our lives, we will not see the point in praying. If, on the other hand, we believe that God cares deeply for us and is actively working on our behalf, then we will be motivated to pray at every opportunity about the things that weigh on our hearts.

Remember, the Bible tells us that God is a loving and caring Father who is deeply concerned for His children. Jesus taught us to pray to "Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9). Addressing God as our Father is a powerful reminder of the love and care God has for us. This truth can motivate us to approach God with confidence, knowing that He loves us and desires the best for our lives.

Yet, it can be hard to remember the love and care God has for us. The circumstances of life can cause us to doubt God. When we face trials and difficulties, we can wonder if God really does care about us. We may question why He has allowed us to experience pain and suffering. 

Yet, it is during times like these that prayer becomes even more important.

How do we pray when we don’t feel like praying? When we doubt the goodness of God?

I don’t know if I have a good answer for that, except, that we fall back on the discipline of prayer. This is why it is crucial to develop a habit of prayer, so we will follow through the with the actions of faith, even when the feeling of faith is not there.

I am confident that as we come to God in prayer, we are reminded of His faithfulness and love for us. We are reminded that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Prayer is also the way we align our hearts and minds with God's will. When we pray, we seek God's guidance and direction for our lives. We acknowledge that we need His wisdom and understanding to navigate the challenges that we face. As we pray, we remember of God's sovereignty and power. We remind ourselves that He is in control, even when things seem to be spiraling out of our control.

Prayer is a spiritual discipline that reveals what we truly believe about God. If we believe that God is distant and uninterested in our lives, we may not see the point in praying. But if we believe that God cares deeply for us and is actively working on our behalf, then we will be motivated to fall on our knees and cry out to Him.

As we pray, we are reminded of God's love and care for us. We are also reminded of His sovereignty and power. May we be encouraged to pray with faith and confidence, knowing that God hears our prayers and is actively working on our behalf.

Sunday Prayer: Joy In Our Hearts

 

Father in Heaven,

On this day, we lift our hearts to you in gratitude and joy. We thank you for the beauty of your creation that surrounds us, For the sun that warms our skin, and the breeze that refreshes our spirits.

We thank you for the blessings you have bestowed upon us, For the love of family and friends, and the joy they bring into our lives.

We ask that you fill us with your joy, A joy that is not dependent on circumstances or possessions, But a joy that comes from knowing Jesus and trusting in his sacrificial love.

May this joy overflow from our hearts and spill out into the world around us, May it be a light that shines in the darkness, a hope that brings comfort to those in need.

May we find joy in the simple things of life, In the laughter of children, the beauty of a sunset, and the taste of good food.

May we find joy in the challenges we face, Knowing that they will develop our character and help us become more like Jesus.

May we find joy in the moments of stillness, When we can rest in your presence and know that you are with us always.

Bless us, Heavenly Father and Creator of life, with your joy and your peace, And may we live each day with hearts full of gratitude and joy.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Philippians: Continued Prayers

STOP — Philippians 1:7-11

Summarize

Paul continued to explain to the Philippians why he is grateful for them and why he has so much affection towards them. They have partnered with him through out his ministry, including his imprisonment. Paul let them know that his pray for them is for their love will grow through the wisdom and discernment that God gives. They need this so they can be spiritually mature and ready for the return of Jesus.

Truth
It is crucial we continue on with spiritual formation so we can be ready for the return of Jesus.

Observations

1. Relationships are very important. Apparently, Paul was held in high regard in Philippi and they had helped him throughout his ministry. Paul was touched by there care and generosity and he admired their faith in proclaiming the Gospel. Both Paul and the Philippians valued the relationship they had with each other.
2. The Philippians responded to the Gospel, not only by receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but also dedicating their lives to proclaiming the Gospel. Part of the dedication is seen in their support of Paul and his ministry.
3. Paul not only prayed for the Philippians, but he let them know what his prayer was for them. He prayed that they would experience spiritual formation as their love grew. This growth was due to an increased wisdom, understanding, and discernment about who God is and His will for their lives.
4. The way we can be filled with righteousness is to have our love for God and people grow. We cannot grow in righteousness if we are not growing in love.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, may Paul’s prayer for the Philippians be true for me. I want my love to grow as the result of having a better understanding of your truth.

Tomorrow: Philippians 1:12-20

Philippians: Greetings and Prayer

STOP — Philippians 1:1-6

Summarize
Paul, along with his student Timothy, wrote a letter to the church they helped start in the city of Philippi. It is addressed to all the saints in the city, including the recognized leaders of the church. Paul told them that he thanked God for them and was joyful because of them. Not only did Paul have fond memories of them, but he was grateful for their help in proclaiming the gospel. He encouraged them by reminding them that God would mature their faith so they would be ready for the return of Jesus.

Truth
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Observations

1. Paul identifies himself and Timothy as servants of Jesus. This means Paul realizes that he is not doing his work, but he is doing the work of Jesus. Paul saw himself under the will and authority of Jesus.
2. Saints in Christ Jesus are anyone who has placed their trust in Jesus. Saints are God’s holy people. Overseers and deacons are those who have been set apart by the church to do the work of the church.
3. Grace (the common Greek greeting) and peace (the common Jewish greeting) come from one sources: God through Jesus. Paul is not just offering them cultural niceties, but he is giving them a blessing that comes from God. He wants the Philippians to experience grace and peace.
4. Paul, and Timothy, had history with the Philippians. There would have been good reason for Paul to thank God for the Philippians because they had showed him kindness.
5. There is joy Paul when he thinks about the Philippians, not only because of their kindness, but because they had been at work to proclaim the Gospel. They supported Paul in his ministry in Philippi, they had continued to follow his example, and they supported him in is teaching ministry/mission work. Even during his time in prison.
6. Paul knew that the Philippians, for all the things they were doing well, still needed to grow in their faith. He wanted to reminded them that the work of spiritual formation/discipleship was not entirely on their shoulders, God would carry on that work, so they could be ready for the return of Jesus.

Prayer
Father in Heaven, help me to be like Paul, who was concerned with the spiritual well being of those who he taught and led. May I remember that it isn’t just about what I say and do, but it is also about trusting You to continue to work in their hearts and minds.

Tomorrow: Philippians 1:7-11

Prayer is Essential to Change

The world that we live in is not what it should be. On a daily basis we are saddened to hear about the murders, disasters, wars, and other tragedies that dominate our headlines. 

Even though we are saddened, we know that there is little that we dan do to change the major issues that face the world. So what are we to do?

As cliché as it might sound, we who follow Jesus are called to pray. It is through prayer that we experience change.

The reality is that we have very little control over what goes on in this world, but what we do have control over is how we live. While we our actions may not result in world peace or solve world hunger or diminish crime in our communities, our choice to love, to forgive, and to serve can have a huge impact on those around us.

Here is the issue, we are not naturally loving, forgiving, or merciful. We tend to be selfish, prideful, and untrustworthy. In other words, we contribute to the problems in the world, rather than doing what we can do to relieve the issues in our part of the world.

This is why change is crucial.

If all our failed attempts to change have taught us anything, it is that we need help to change. We can’t change on our own, especially in ways that make this world a better place.

Ephesians 3:14-18 (NLT)

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Paul’s prayer for the people who received his letter was that they would  receive what they needed, that they would be strengthened and experience God, and that they would have a knowledge of God’s love. This was a prayer for the Ephesians to experience transformation. A transformation that allows them to know and experience God in a new way.

This is a transformation that cannot happen apart from God working in our lives. The deep work that needs to happen in our hearts and minds can only be done through the work of the Spirit. Without prayer and surrendering our wills this transformation is not going to happen.

While it is important for us to pray for healing or friends, family, and acquaintances, it is equally important for us to pray prayers similar to Paul’s for ourselves and our church families. Without God’s work, change will not happen.

Make prayer an essential part of your spiritual formation.