January 27 2012

Thanks, Brothers
 
Reading: Philemon 1:4-7, 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

I think that sometimes we take our Christian brothers for granted. When do we remember them, when we need a hand with something? When we have received unwelcome news? How often do we remember to pray for our brother or just give thanks to God for blessing our lives with them? Surely we’re thankful for them, aren’t we? It truly is a different feeling to pray thanks for someone rather than lifting them as a request. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s important that we pray for those in need, but I also feel a joy when I pray for someone “just because.”

I can recall a day that can be described as a “case of the Mondays.” Nothing was going right. I was miserable and in a foul mood. I knew I had to pray and as I started speaking the words, I found my thoughts drifting to my best friend. I prayed that his house would finally close escrow that he would have enough time with his girlfriend and I prayed that he would serve the Lord to the best of his potential. Wouldn’t you know it…as soon as I said Amen, the phone rang. It was my friend with great news – his house had finally closed and he was taking his girlfriend out to celebrate. He closed with “Isn’t God great?” “Yes He is.” I replied. I spent the rest of the day in a great mood. I pray that the next time you’re having a “case of the Mondays” that you will be able to turn to God in prayer and change that “Monday” into a great day.

Who can you pray for today and, specifically, how will you be praying for them?


 

End of the Day Review
  
How did you lift up your brothers in prayer today?
 
 
Did you see any results? How did God reveal Himself to you through doing this?