Praying With Joy

I concluded yesterday by telling you that there were questions which had stopped me in my tracks. How about you? Aren’t there ideas, thoughts, questions and perhaps more, running through your mind? I know that some of my questions have been totally confronting. Maybe, like me, you too began to wonder about your prayers for your sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus. Like you, I know that praying for them is not in question, for I do pray for them. Additionally, praying for them with joy is not even the issue, for depending on the situation and circumstances, I do pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ, with joy.

Here is a quick reminder. This praying is not for everyone, not for the world or unbelievers. This is praying for those who work in the Lord’s service, as you do, those who are believers and seek at all times to be witnesses for the Lord.

The stopping question is when I listen to Paul, who is not even with them in person, Paul who is physically away from them, able to pray for them with joy, each time he prays. I have my family in Christ near to me and not far from me in terms of physical reach, but do I, in all my prayers for all of them, always pray with joy? Do I pray for the Church with joy? I have to confess that this is not evidenced in all of my prayers. What about you? Do you pray for other workers of the Lord, other believers, with joy at all times?  I believe that our Lord wishes us to pray as His servant Paul, when we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

What do we know of Jesus and the Spirit’s fruit of joy? May the Holy Spirit grant us listening and speaking, wisdom and understanding, witnessing and encouragement, as we are brought to John 15: 9 – 12. Jesus is speaking to His disciples, those who have given their lives to Him and are His servants. These words are not for the unbeliever. Listen deeply to Jesus. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Jesus spoke this word to them so that two specific, intertwining responses will be evidenced in them.

The first response to be found in all who have remained in His love is this. The joy of Jesus, not the joy of the world, but His heavenly joy, might be in all of them. Then Jesus goes on to elaborate on this joy, as He speaks about the companion response. His joy will not just be in them, but their joy may be complete. Is this not also a prayer of Jesus? Does He not want their joy to be complete? But what is complete joy?

We'll continue this tomorrow.