A Practical Walk through Philippians: Part 1 – Praying for Others

 

For me the book of Philippians is the most difficult book (James is a close second) as it relates to applying scripture to your daily walk. The book is full of otherness if that is a word. Paul uses Christ as an example in the early verses of Chapter 2 and then Timothy and Epaphroditus at the end. This post will deal with praying for others and what it has to say about our “looking out for the interest of others”. 

 Philippians 1:3-113 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,  both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 

What does our prayer life have to do with loving one another? Most will say nothing, but I beg the differ. In the verses above you see Paul’s genuine concern for them is flushed out in his prayers for them. Prayer is an appeal to God. It shows our dependency upon Him and it is to Him that our request and petitions for our welfare is made. Whom else can we appeal to when we are helpless and hopeless but God alone? Paul shows his deep affection and concern for the Church at Philippi by “thanking God” for them and praying for their Spiritual Growth.

So here is my question. How often do you pray for others? If you were to record your daily prayers, how many requests are for others and how many are for you and your family? How much of your prayer is about your health, your job, your spiritual growth, your peace, and your sin? This will determine how much you really are concerned for those you come in contact with, or it shows that you really don’t trust that God answers prayers.

For example how often do you thank God (alone not with others) for the answered prayers of others? As people are appealing to God and he answers their prayers to the specifications they asked, does your thankfulness include their answered prayers? What about those struggling in sin? Do you appeal to God for their maturity in the faith and their obedience? Or do you sit back and shake your head? What about the salvation of coworkers, friends and family. Do you appeal to God to save them, or do you look at them with hopelessness (especially those, who seem unredeemable)?  

I believe that praying for others shows how truly you love them and how concerned you are for them. Especially for lost loved ones, coworkers and acquaintances. Paul was both thankful for the Philippians and was genuinely concerned about their spiritual growth. Paul says in Philippians 2 “don’t merely look out for your own interests, but also for the interests of others”. He then used Christ as that perfect example!

Finally I challenge you. For the next three days, don’t pray for yourself, whatsoever, or your immediate family (unless they are lost). Pray for lost coworkers, distant relatives and friends. Pray for church members who need to mature and pray for those you know caught in heinous sin. Finally pray that God will give you opportunities to minister to them (this is the only self prayer). Let me know how well you do. I will take this challenge myself.