Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Praying for a Friend" for Wednesday, 27 August 2014 - Read Philippians 1: A Love That Will Grow3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
7-8 It’s not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
9-11 So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
Paul wrote, “We have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”(Colossians 1:9 (NRSV))
Unfounded accusations at work, a rebellious teenager, an unpaid mortgage, nagging illness — the hardships my co-worker was experiencing seemed overwhelming. I listened without comment. What could I say? He surely didn’t need a lecture on how to endure hardship. My heart ached for him. My mind searched for a helpful response. When he paused to take a drink of water, I said, “I’d love to solve even one of these problems for you, but I can’t. But I can and I do pray for you.” I picked up my Bible, opened it to Philippians 1, and said, “Here’s what Paul prayed for the Philippians. It’s what I’m praying for you: that God will give you depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best, and that your behavior in each matter will bring glory to God.”
Just hearing those words comforted my friend. He smiled and said, “You’re a good friend. I’m praying for you, too.”
“I’m always willing to listen. It helps me pray more often and more specifically for you,” I told him.
People don’t usually need advice. Instead, God calls us to be listeners and intercessors.
The Author: Denise Loock (North Carolina, USA)
Thought for the Day: Who needs my attention and prayers today?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, our great High Priest, bring someone across our path today who needs to be encouraged. Amen.
Prayer focus: parents of rebellious teenagers
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