Pray with joy

The Apostle Paul was someone who was not afraid of anything. How could he have such confidence and joy in the midst of difficulties, uncertainties and opposition ? And how can we live the same thing as him at the time we live ?

First of all, when you suffer because of the pain of others, God will bring you joy ! Many people today suffer for one reason or another - the loss of a job, a disconcerted or vanquished spouse, a chronic illness, a loved one struggling with poverty.

We read in Philippians 1: 1 : "Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ." Paul said : "I am a slave who no longer belongs to himself. Christ is my everything." And then he continues speaking to a larger group : "to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, bishops and deacons "

I like this passage because, ten years before, he started the church of Philippe with a jailer, a woman and a child slave. At present, the church has elders, deacons and bishops. It has a structure, order and vitality !

And then he says in verse 2, "Grace and peace be given to you from God." There he sets the tone for us, in the midst of our trials, so that we can rely on grace and peace that come from one source : God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"I thank my God for all the remembrance I have of you, never ceasing, in all my prayers for all of you, to manifest my joy" (1: 3-4).

I like when he says : "All the memory I have of you." Sometimes we only remember one part, do not we ? Sometimes we do not want to pray for our enemies, for those who have hurt or abused us - difficult people in the church or in our family. But Paul says : "I pray for you all, and when I pray, I pray with joy."

Gary Wilkerson