Joy In Praying

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. Philippians 1: 4 - 5

We were told that Paul’s only reason for his joy in praying, came because of their partnership in: - journeying together, offering together and yielding together. What does this partnership involve? We delve a bit deeper, as it involves: -

Journeying together – To journey together is to work together as servants, in partnership, in the service of the Lord. Working together calls for one, common understanding, one. common mind and one, common heart, in the work and service of the Lord. These Philippian believers, the Church of believers, together with Paul, share one common journey, as they are obedient to God, in His service.  

Offering together – To offer together, is to be of one disposition, mind and heart, in waiting on the Lord. It is to learn how to wait on the Lord, as His servant. It is to be believers who have unconditionally offered our lives to Jesus, from the beginning, from day one. These Philippian believers, this Body of Believers, and Paul, share one common offering, the offering of themselves to God, in His service.  

Yielding together – To yield together, is to weather life’s trials together, completely yielded to the Lord. It is to face all the trials, tribulations and troubles of this world of darkness, fears, doubts, pain and evil upon evil, without breaking, or falling away from one’s service to God. It is to be so yielded to the Lord and not to the pressures of service that we remain constant and obedient to our Holy Master. From when we started, to this present time, our lives have been yielded to nothing else and no one else but our Lord. These Philippian believers, have served the Lord, with Paul, while he was physically in their midst. Now that they are physically parted and do not see each other, this army of saints, continue to work for the Lord, fully yielded to Him as Paul is, committed fully to the Lord’s service.  

It is because of these truths, these facts, that Paul, from his physically away place, remembers the Philippians with thanks to God and prays for them with joy, at all times.

There’s joy in praying for others; co-workers, joint-workers, partners, fellow-workers and sharers, in the Lord’s service of spreading the Gospel. As partners in the Lord’s service, we are working together as servants, waiting on Him at all times and weathering all storms and conditions which come our way.

As partners together in the service of the Lord, we are able, in all our prayers, to pray for each other with joy always, because of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. May I commend to you, fellow believers, the wisdom, blessing and beauty of Colossians 3: 15 – 17.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.