Every time I remember you, I pray!
“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy.” (Phil 1:3-4 NLT)
A prompting to take action
Have you ever had someone just pop into your thoughts? I have, many times, and I use it as a prompt from the Holy Spirit to say a prayer for them. This is what this verse is saying. “Every time I think of you …. I pray … I give thanks … I make requests for you …. with joy. Notice that there are five parts to this verse and it ends with joy! Think, pray, thank, request, and joy. It’s actually a great example to follow.
A type of ministry
This can be a very powerful and helpful ministry for any perceptive believer who puts this process of “remembering and praying” for others into practice! The Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b NIV)
“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24 NKJV)
Therefore…
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:23-25 ESV)
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Col. 3:2 ESV)