Philippians 1:4-6 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.

Prayer is always a blessed thing, but it is especially joyful when we pray for those we know are committed to Christ and His kingdom. Verse 6 here has been a great comfort to many over the years, particularly when we see things that look like road blocks, or at least major detours, in our own lives or in the lives of others. God doesn’t let go of us, even when we feel like we’re letting go of Him. Romans 8:38-39 says that external things can’t separate us from God’s love, but even our own foolishness has a hard time doing it. There are countless true stories of people who wandered far from God, only to be brought back to do marvelous work for Him. As long as we think that our success depends on our own strength and purity we will be anxious, and rightly so, because our strength and purity are never enough. However, when we realize that it is God who is working in us both to will and to do what is pleasing to Him, (Philippians 2:13) then we can rest, relax, and rejoice to cooperate with Him. (I’ve always though it interesting, and significant, that those two verses are in the same letter.)

Like so many, I have experienced this in spades. My twist was that at the point I was farthest from God, I still thought I was a good Christian! Having been baptized at 7, and according to my parents, having loved Jesus since years before that, it was not difficult for me to descend into spiritual pride, and I did so with a vengeance. That’s why, when at 24 the Lord tapped me on the shoulder and showed me a spiritual mirror, so to speak, it was absolutely shattering (not to the mirror, but to me). All I could do was fall to my knees and cry out, my Lord and my God. I feel a great empathy with Thomas! Others close to me have had similar times of falling away, only to come back with cleansed and strengthened faith. Accordingly, my point of prayer for everyone is to be repentance. There is no salvation without repentance, and the solution for every error in our lives is repentance. I am to remember, for myself and for those for whom I pray, that the power is God’s and not merely human. He is indeed more than able to bring to completion the good work that He has begun in us!

Father, thank You for this reminder. I encounter so many who need it, who fret and agonize over those they love. Help all of Your children repent as needed, and then rest, relax, and rejoice in You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!