always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, Philippians 1:4
Doing something for someone else will usually require a sacrifice of self to get it accomplished. Many will do what is needed, but often with a slight grudge, not really desiring to do what was needed, unless there is a benefit to self in doing it. People want to gain something from everything that they do, otherwise there is very little joy in doing it, it is an unwanted chore that has been forced upon them.
Paul begins his letter to the Philippian church stating that in every prayer he prays he finds great joy in making requests for them.
The world teaches that one must begin everything with focusing upon self. Self must be taken care of first. Once self is taken care of and pleased, then one can begin to look to the needs of others.
As selfish as this is, many believers follow that same prayer in their own lives, especially in the area of prayer. Believers who do actually take time to pray on a regular basis, which are a minority, often focus upon prayers for self. They go to God with a long list of their own personal needs, whether physical, emotional or spiritual needs.
Prayer for others usually is done only for loved ones or very close friends. Very little time is spent in praying for the needs of others.
Looking at the prayers of Jesus, all of them were for others with the exception of the prayer in the garden before His death. In the same way believers need to pray for others, both for believers and non-believers, lifting up their needs before God.
They should find it a great joy to bring the needs of others before God because those prayers build others up in Jesus.
While it is important to pray for your own needs, it is also very important that you lift up the needs of others to God in all of your prayers. Think of how great it is that you can partner with God in prayer in meeting the needs of others. Do not look at it as a necessary chore, but a privilege and joy to make requests to God on behalf of others. Through your prayers for others, God can do great things and change many lives.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will pray daily to God for the needs of others; that you will find it a joy to pray for others; that you will see God do great works in the lives of others through your prayers; and that God will meet all of your needs as you pray for others.
Photo by Caju Gomes on Unsplash
