Sunday, February 18, 2018

Sprinkling JOY


Do I pray with joy when I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ?

 Paul writes: "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:3-6

 You know, if I received a letter from a fellow believer telling me that every time they pray for me it is with JOY I think my faith would soar to new heights! Sadly, there's probably only a few times I've ever said this to someone, even though I have prayed for joy after answered prayer or when giving thanks for something.

But to be honest, I don't think I pray with JOY often enough at all. Though my prayers always begin with thanksgiving and praise to God, too many prayers are filled with angst and tears and longing and pleas for intervention, and afterwards I get up and feel relief at unloading all that on God, but not often enough do I rise from my prayer time with a JOY-ful attitude.  

 Maybe some of you are already praying like Paul, but if you're like me, how about we start praying for our fellow believers with JOY? 
As Paul said, God is doing a work in them that WILL continue until the return of Jesus so no matter what they are facing God has it all in hand - there are no surprises to Him, it's all under control in light of the Big Picture.

There will still be times when we must cry out to the Lord and intercede over a situation, but we can also pray alongside that with joy. Just like in many of David's psalms - there was a need or a trial, but there was also confidence and JOY and praise!

Many of my prayers this year for Blossom have been anxious prayers about her pregnancy and the associated trials she has faced through it...but from today I'm sprinkling those prayers with JOY.

After all, there is always a reason to be thankful and to praise God - but there's also a reason, given in Paul and King David's example, to be JOYFUL, to even ask for JOY and to open our hearts to receive it. 

Today I am praying for you...with JOY.

hugs


11 comments:

Allie-oops Designs said...

LOVE this - thanking the Lord for you, with JOY!!!!

Tammy said...

I love you Jenny. My Sew sister and sister in Christ. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the joy YOU bring into my life in many small ways and big ways. Ways you know of and ways that you don't. I look forward to each post of yours and to your Group. It has been a constant source of Joy and contentment to me. Thank you for the blessings you bestow upon me. And thank you God almighty for delivering Jenny into my life at the time I needed someone most when I was first diagnosed with cancer several years ago. You are my rock. I pray for blessings for you and your family along with good health and healing. And I am so thankful to have you in this world. A bright ray of sunshine bringing Peace ,Hope, Love, Joy and Contentment to us all that know you. Ypu are important , You are loved, You are needed, you are prayed for often. You matter never ever doubt that my sweet friend.

Nancy Page said...

Thank you so very much for your prayers and thoughts for all of us. You are so very thoughtful and that thoughtfulness is so very much appreciated. It warms my heart to know that you care so much for those around you and those around the world. I pray for you and your family with much joy and peacefulness. Bless You and Thank You!

Deborah said...

Hi Jenny, thank you so much for this encouraging post! :-) I'm SO thankful that I found out about you and your blog from Kerryanne. I look so forward to your posts! Thank you for your time in sharing The Lord with us, as well as your beautiful talents and patterns!!! Smiles, Deborah :-)

Lynne Stucke said...

One of the early foundational truths I taught my daughters in walking the Christian life is: God IS in control; no matter what happens, find something to be thankful about, and praise the Lord for it! I firmly believe that's what Phil 4:8 teaches: " . . . if there be ANY virtue, if there be ANY praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS." (emphasis mine) I believe it's our responsibility to find the virtue and praise in every circumstance, and to think on that (I Thess 5:18 "IN (not 'for') every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Thank you for your blog, Jenny, and for your obvious love for the Lord!

Susan said...

I am praying for you and yours with Joy.

Susan said...

YES! I do mix in prayers of thankful joy. It started consciously, but I think it's become a part of me to pause and talk to my father about all the joy I feel in Him and in my friends, in his gospel truths, and in his gifts and daily tender mercies to me and to those I love. I need to do more. I love the way you described this and that you used that verse from Paul. The Psalms of David are the perfect example of joy and thanksgiving to the Lord. 2 Samuel 7:14 - And David danced before the Lord with all his might; Psalm 30:11 - Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness. Let's dance and praise with joy together. =)

Brenda said...

Dear Blessed Jenny; Your message today was so invigorating! I know that I do not do it often enough, have paused and even asked myself while praying why be so gloom....Thank the Lord for all that there is and that I have! I also read the other comments and each one touched my heart. You are a blessing Jenny and I am so Joyful that the Lord led me to you and to your teaching. Bless you and your family!

Martha Roberts said...

This post fills me with joy! Thank you, dear Jenny for your timely words.

Little Penpen said...

Praying for Blossom and a safe delivery!!

Angie in SoCal said...

Thank you, Jenny, for your joyful prayers for us. I life my eyes to the Lord in joy for you.