By Ryne Brewer
Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:3-11, Acts 16:16-40, Philemon 1:4-7
Growing up, I knew for certain that my grandmother prayed for me daily. Anytime I walked into her home, she was smiling ear to ear, full of joy. She was a woman of great love and affection for Jesus, the type of person that when you were around her, you never left feeling depleted or beaten down but strengthened and filled with courage and safety—almost as if you’d been with Jesus. Do you have anyone like that in your life?
I always wondered what her secret was. Then I read today’s reading from Philippians 1:3–11, and it was as if God said, “Here’s the secret—prayer.”
Prayer is one of our primary pathways of participating with God in this world. Paul demonstrated to us that prayer can do as much in us as it does in the world. I noticed two interesting things as I read through these verses. The first thing I noticed is that prayer cultivates joy and affection. Paul mentioned, “I give thanks…always praying with joy” (Philippians 1:3–4). Thinking outside of ourselves and considering those we love, admire, and have relationships with directly connects us to God, cultivating a heart of joy in us. That joy especially wells up in us as we pray for God’s grace and love to be worked out more and more in the lives of those we love (v.9). I think one of the primary reasons Paul’s joy increased is not just because of the product of his own time in prayer but because as he prayed for the Philippians, he partook even more in the grace of God. This allowed him to see with the affection of Jesus as his own affections also increased.
Prayer also cultivates perspective. It seems to me that the more Paul prayed for the Philippian church, the less he thought about himself and the more he thought about the return of Christ (v.8). You would think Paul had every reason to ask that the Philippian church be concerned for him in the present moment—I mean, he was in prison (v.7)! But all he could do was give thanks and pray with joy for a deepening love, knowledge, and discernment.
The incredible thing about the prayers of my grandmother is that while I wasn’t in love with Jesus for most of the time she prayed for me, she still prayed. She prayed for me not because she was some incredible saint but because she was convinced of the inward and outward transformation God does as we commune with Him in prayer. I’m sure my grandmother’s prayers all those years after I came to Christ were littered with thanksgiving, joy, and asking God for a deep knowledge and love for Christ.
Written by Ryne Brewer
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