Joyful Prayer

"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy..." Philippians 1:4 (NIV)

I've been working on a weekend retreat series that I'll be teaching in a couple of weeks. Our topic is "Joy In All Things" and we will be studying Paul's letter to the Philippians, a New Testament book that is often called the book of joy. But what is joy and why is it important?

Pastor John Piper writes: "Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he cause us to see the beauty of Christ in the Word and in the world."  

Author Trevin Wax distinguishes between happiness and joy when he writes, "Happiness is dependent on our circumstances. Joy is dependent on our Savior." 

C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest thinkers of the last century says, "Joy is the serious business of heaven" while the Apostle Paul declares that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)

In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul uses the word "joy" or 'rejoice" at least sixteen times in only four short chapters. Paul's call to joy is especially significant when we remember that he was writing the words from a Roman prison cell. How many of us would be rejoicing in prison? How many of us would be leading by example and calling others to follow us in a life of joy? Yet as I read and re-read Paul's letter to the Philippians, I am especially struck by the Apostle's first use of the word "joy" in his letter. We find it in today's Bible Bits verse: "I always pray with joy."

Reading those words, I really had to ask myself an important question:" Do I pray with joy?" Upon reflection, I must confess that my prayers, more often than not, feel more like work, and less like joy. The "Do I pray with joy?" question soon became a "how do I pray with joy?" query. Reading Paul's words again, my eyes caught the secret to his joyful prayers. Paul prayed joyfully for the Philippians each time he remembered and gave thanks to God for them. In other words, Paul considered the Philippian church to be a gift of God's grace; Paul then gave thanks; and the result was great joy.

Is there anyone in your life for whom you are thankful each time you remember them? If so, do you pray for them? Even better, do you joyfully pray for them? Do those for whom you give thanks know that you are praying for them? How humbling and  yet encouraging it must have been for a member of that little church to read the contents of Paul's prayer:

"And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11)

Paul's words challenge me to move from my questions -- "Do I pray with joy?" and "How do I pray with joy?"-- to a desperate plea: "Lord, help me pray with joy!"