At the moment on Sunday mornings, we’re working our way through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The title of the series is ‘Partners’for Life’. It’s a book full of Paul’s personal warmth and affection for the Philippian Christians, his ‘partners in the gospel’. One thing I’ve been personally challenged as I’ve worked my way through this letter is what Paul has to say about prayer.

For Paul, ‘partnership in the gospel’ is expressed in prayer. He is praying for the Philippians and they are praying for him. But check out what Paul has to say about the Philippians prayer in 1v19 – “for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happend to me will turn out for my deliverance”.

Notice that – Paul is confident that God will deliver him because the Philppians are praying for him! Paul is confident because he knows God answers prayer. He’s confident because prayer works! What a great reminder for us all at freshchurch. When we pray, we’re not praying to a distant and impotent God. And when we pray, it’s not because of some Christian expectation and obligation that its just what Christians do. We pray – because God is powerful, he’s completley loving and he loves to answer us. What a great and much needed reminder for all us. We may struggle with our prayer lives. Who doesn’t! But it’s important to refocus on the fact that our prayers can move God to do great things. No fancy fangled prayer needed. No special prayer techniques required. Just pray. And pray with confidence – knowing that God is powerful and our prayers count.

Oh, and if you want to know that sort of prayer God wants to hear from us, have a read of Philippians 1:911.