Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
PHILIPPIANS 1:1-5, 9-13| Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. I want you to know, beloved that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ.
Paul, imprisoned in Rome, writes to his friends in the church at Philippi. This simple action is a reminder of what you and I can do despite limitations. He is under guard, awaiting trial. He cannot travel and so he cannot teach or pastor the church he longs to connect with. But he can pray for them and he can encourage them.
Sometimes separated by distance or restricted by age or circumstance we cannot help people directly. But prayer and encouragement are powerful things. Paul sent a letter. Today we can cross distance digitally to offer encouragement to almost anyone.
Write a prayer for someone and send it to them this week. Use the elements Paul put into his prayer; thanksgiving, joy, connection, longing, and spiritual hope.
