March 24 2026

Tuesday March 24

Praying With Joy

Philippians 1:3-4

Today we are continuing to look at Philippians 1:3- 4. In verse 3, Paul made the statement, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Then he continues in verse 4, “always in every prayer of mine, making requests for you all with joy.” The apostle Paul makes it very clear that he prayed for people, and he prayed with joy. This is a very important detail. Sometimes when we pray, we can feel heavy. We pray about burdens and struggles and needs. But Paul’s prayers for these believers were filled with joy.

Why did he pray that way? Because he knew that God was at work in their lives. As you read on through the book of Philippians, especially chapter 1, you see that he remembered their faith, their growth, and their partnership in the gospel. These memories filled his prayers with joy.

Notice something else that Paul said: he prayed for them always. Prayer was not an occasional activity in Paul’s life; it was a constant habit. Imagine what our churches and our fellowships of believers would be like if we all prayed for each other like that—praying regularly, praying joyfully, praying in faith that God is working in their lives.

I am convinced that one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is to pray for them. I thank God for all the financial support people have given me as a pastor over the years, and for all the wonderful gifts and kind things they have done. But, my friend, the best thing I tell them is this: when you pray for me, I feel it. I know I am being strengthened. My faith is growing. I am able to stand against the evil that comes into my life. Your prayers make a difference in my life. I thank you for those prayers more than anything else. That is what Paul gave to others. That is the greatest gift you can give to others.

By the way, remember: Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Pray for them, because you need prayer yourself. When you pray for others, God blesses you with people who will pray for you. You might not be able to solve all the problems of your friends and family, but you can bring their needs before God. When we pray, according to Scripture and our own experiences in life, something happens. God strengthens them, and He softens hearts as well.

Today, we need to learn to follow the apostle Paul’s example. I also want to remind you that Jesus prays for us. He set the ultimate example. The New Testament highlights both Jesus’ personal prayers on earth for His followers and His continued intercession for those who would believe. In John chapter 17, in His high priestly prayer before the cross, Jesus said, “I pray for them.” He is praying to His Father: “I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours.” Jesus says, “I am praying for them.” In verse 20, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message.”

I get so excited about that, because there Jesus was not just praying for those disciples—He was praying for me as well in that moment. The entire chapter of John 17 is Jesus’ extended prayer for His disciples and for all who would later believe. In it, He asked the Father to protect them, to keep them unified, to sanctify them with truth, to fill them with joy, and to bring them to be with Him where He is. Read John 17, and you will see how Jesus prayed for you.

Jesus also had a specific prayer for Peter when Peter was facing a difficult moment concerning Jesus going to the cross. He said to Peter, “Satan would sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you, that you would turn again and strengthen your brethren.” Jesus told Peter this just before His arrest, showing His personal intercession even in the midst of His great trials.

In Romans 8:34, we are told that Jesus is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. In Hebrews 7:25, we read that Jesus “is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to make intercession for them.” We also see in 1 John 2:1 that we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And in Hebrews 9:24, we are told that “He entered into heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

Jesus set the example. He prays for us. Let us pray for others with joy, even as the apostle Paul did for the church at Philippi. God bless you as you make prayer a constant habit of your life.

God bless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.