Today is wet and soggy in California. I have a bad cold that started a few days ago and just want to stay under cover. It’s dry under the covers and my throbbing head can get some relief! But, it’s just a cold, and I have confidence that it will be better soon.
Confidence often comes from experience. I have confidence in the cold resolving because I have had many colds…they come and go. As we continue our walk through Philippians we see that the Apostle Paul had confidence that God indeed was at work in human lives. He banked on it, believed it, and prayed accordingly. As we continue turning the pages and looking at the verses in Philippians, let’s look at what Paul prayed for the people there:
Philippians 1: 9-11
” And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
After reminding them that God would complete the work He began in them, he also commits to pray for them for some very specific things:
- Love
- Knowledge
- Discernment
- Sincerity
- Fruitfulness
- Glorifying God
Love is not flimsy. It is not a pat on the back, a smile or just a nice word to someone. Love has meat to it, stick to the ribs quality. For love to abound, the other very firm attributes follow close behind. And, to this end Paul prayed for his friends.
I like that Paul gives us examples for what he prayed. Examples that translate well into real life. So, today I am going to think about the list, making sure that these 5 things that come after “LOVE” will be things that are important to me as well.
More later. Think about the prayer, think about the list, ask yourself some questions and I will ask myself too.
One thing is certain, God is at work in our lives, and Love is the main thing that will glorify Him, give us strength to stand, and give us faith to believe.
One last word…not from me, but from Scripture:
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also out to love one another.” 1 John 4:7-10
Paul prayed that they would be filled with love….this was God’s heart. Being filled with love is to be filled with God himself. To be filled with God himself then produces the things on that short prayer list, knowledge, discernment, sincerety,fruitfulness, glorifying God through our lives.
Today I am praying for LOVE and all it’s attributes. In other words, I am praying to be filled with God himself. I am not praying for NICE, that is too flimsy. I am praying for the heart of God.
Join me in that prayer as we present ourselves daily to the Father.
It’s Monday, enjoy the start day of another week.
with love,
Debbie
