Philippians 1:3–6 (NKJV)
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Thanking God for believers in the church! Loving those in the church! Praying for those God has put in our lives!
If Paul, while in prison could pray for and thank God for his fellow believers how much more should we be praying for those God has put in our lives.
The church of God loves and cares for each other. It is not just what happens while in the building but also outside of the church building. We must remember in God’s family we are not alone. God is building the church that is a family that is worldwide. When we become a follower of Christ, we not only pray for our local family but also for those around the world.
Paul writes in Colossians 1:12 that we are “to give thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Today thank God for those in the church. As God brings names to your mind pray for them. It may be God is giving you names of people in your church you may have contention with. Pray for them! Honestly pray for God’s blessing in their lives.
Paul also writes in Colossians 3:15 that we are to “let the peace of God rule in our hearts to the which also you are called in one body.” It may seem to some that Paul is stepping over a line in asking us to pray for the “peace of God to rule in our hearts.” But, the church is not the world. The church does not live under satanic rule as the world does. The church is different. We are not to live under worldly satanic influence but under the love of God. We are to let the peace of God rule our lives.
God has a purpose and plan for the church and individually for you. Live your life with confidence and assurance in God’s salvation. Know God has purpose for you in everything you do. The phrase, “Let go and let God” does apply to your life. We must quit trying to do things our way and do them God’s way. Being the shy, introverted person I am I stand before others with the confidence of God and proclaim His Word. I stand in front of individuals and share His Word. Paul not only prayed for the believers he encouraged them to continue to do God’s work in the church.
Now go pray for the church and do the will of God today!