Philippians 1:3-6, 9-11Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present.There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush.Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.My husband and I were separated for months before our wedding. I prayed this prayer for him so many times that it turned into a song of praise. My brother sang it at our wedding.Through the years, my prayers have not changed much. I still pray that his love will flourish. I still pray that God who started a great work in him will keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.I have just spread out the prayer to include my children, my in-laws and my extended family.Lord, I praise you for the work you are doing in my heart and my life. I praise you for the work you are doing in the hearts and lives of my loved ones. Thank you for watching over each one as I cannot. It doesn’t matter the distance between us because you are there with them while you are here with me.Fill us with your love today. Teach us to love well. Teach us to love appropriately with our hearts and our minds, with your knowledge and your wisdom, with your gentleness and your kindness.Help us to extend your love to all we meet with discernment and glad hearts.
