In All My Remembrance of You

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. (Phil. 1:3)

Phil. 1:3-11; Col. 1:12; Acts 28:15; 1 Jn. 1:7

What Is God Saying?

Philippians is a letter without shadows. It is all rejoicing, all light, all thankfulness, all good memories. ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice.’ This letter arises from Paul's deep affection for the first Christians to meet him in Philippi. He always had a special thankfulness as he remembered these people. He was thankful for their partnership in the Gospel from the first day. He cannot remember them without being thankful (1:5). He cannot pray for them without joy (1:4).

How Does This Apply To Us?

Paul had special people in mind because God had sent them into his life to meet his unique needs. It is possible to be filled with God's love for all the world. It is also inevitable that some people should rise to the top of our grateful memories. Love embraces all, but God, in His mercy, allows us to be close to certain people in whose faces we have seen the joy of the Lord and from whose lives there has flowed the Lord's goodness.

Pray With Me

Dear Lord, when I am thankful, I remember. When I remember, I am thankful. You have filled my heart with your goodness. Through all my days, I have known either the cleansing grace of Your sunshine or the refreshing mercy of Your rain. I have never awakened to a day, however dreary its prospect, when I have not seen evidence of Your love. I have never come upon a day, however burdensome its duties, when Your strength has not surged into my being. I remember your love when quiet in prayer and busy with work. I recall again your beautiful, reassuring promise, ‘Lo, I am with you always.’

I also remember the blessings that are mine because of others. ‘I thank my God in all my remembrance’ of those who cared for my needs before I could respond to them or you. I thank you for their sacrifices and confidence that the seeds they planted would bear fruit. ‘I thank my God in all my remembrance’ of friends who have remembered me in prayer and sustained me by counsel. ‘I thank my God in all my remembrance’ of family, of life's most tender and beautiful relationships.

I would remember to be thankful for all that I have because I have You. For all that I have because You have showered Your love on me through others, I would remember to be thankful. Above all, for all that I have because of Your unspeakable gift, Jesus Christ my Lord, I would remember to be thankful.

To His glory, my praise; in His name, my prayer. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

Let us thank God every time we remember what someone means to us because God sent them to help with the load, cheer our spirits, or shed some light along our path. That will keep us busy in prayer. It will also make prayer for us what it was for Paul, ‘always in every prayer with joy’ (1:4).