I Talked to Him About You

Philippians 1:1-11

Verse 4  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

    We all know that talking negatively about others behind their back is not something we are supposed to do.  There is an exception to this rule and that is when we talk to God about them.

    Of course by talking to God about others we aren’t saying that we should be complaining to God about others, although there may be times when someone is driving us crazy and we need to ask God for wisdom in dealing with them.  In fact, praying about them is the best thing we can do when frustrated with someone.

    There are many reasons to pray for those who are dear to our hearts.  When they are struggling with a decision we can pray for wisdom and guidance.  When a friend loses a loved one to death we should pray for their comfort and peace as they go through their grief.  Maybe they have just had a health diagnosis that comes out of the blue and brings depression with it.

    There are so many different reasons that we lift up those we love.  One way we may not think to pray for our friends is for spiritual growth.  This is one way that we can love like Jesus.  In John 17 He prayed for His followers and for those of us that would follow in the future.  This is a sign of pure Christian love when we can pray for a brother or sister to grow in their relationship with God.  This does not mean praying for them to improve in ways that bother us.  This has little to do with us.  To pray for spiritual growth is to ask God to be working in their lives and knowing that their growth may convict us of work we need to do in our own lives.

    One more point to remember is that this isn’t a one-time prayer for our friends.  Paul says, “In all my prayers for you” showing that he didn’t pray for them only when writing the letter.  His heart for his friends is something that causes him to think of them often and brings him to pray for them.  These prayers of a friend must have come as a comfort to the Christians of Philippi.

Making It Personal

    When have you been comforted by the prayers of a friend?  How faithful are you in praying for your friends?  Do you pray for your friends to grow spiritually?

Making It Personal Kids

    Do you know if you have friends who pray for you?  Do you pray for your friends?  Do you pray they will grow closer to Jesus?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for the gift of praying friends.  Give us the desire to faithfully pray for our friends to grow in relationship with You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.