From our March 2nd Virtual Prayer Service …
Scripture …
So, my dear Christian brothers, you are my joy and crown. I want to see you. Keep on staying true to the Lord, my dear friends. I ask Euodias and Syntyche to agree as Christians should. My true helper, I ask you to help these women who have worked with me so much in preaching the Good News to others. Clement helped also. There are others who worked with me. Their names are in the book of life.
Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy. Let all people see how gentle you are. The Lord is coming again soon. Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things. Keep on doing all the things you learned and received and heard from me. Do the things you saw me do. Then the God Who gives peace will be with you.
– Philippians 4: 1-9
Reflection …
We seek the Lord because the Lord can be found. We thirst because God alone can and does cool our parched spiritual tongues. We hunger because God offers God’s very self as the bread of life which alone can nourish our famished souls. Our most profound need–to know that we are known and loved by God–drives us to prayer. Yet prayer is more than a groping toward this awareness. It is not only longing to be loved, it is longing love–love that longs to be whole, to be fully expressive, to be in communion with God who first loved us.
Prayer …
Our precious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us the scripture that beautifully suggests that we think of whatever is true, respected, right, pure, loved, and well thought of. Please forgive us when we dwell on the negative but accept us that we will put our mind and our hearts towards the joy of knowing you. Thank you God forever, Amen