Start your day with quick daily devotions: February 23, 2021

When I went to eat at my grandmother's house as a boy, he always let me do the dishes. Her kitchen sink window had a shelf with beautiful purple, white and pink African violets. He also kept cards on the windowsill with handwritten Bible verses. One card, I remember, emphasized i valid advice from Paul to pray "in every situation".

Scripture reading - Philippians 4: 4-9 Don't worry about anything, but in any situation, with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4: 6

Although he was probably a prisoner at the time, Paul writes a cheerful and optimistic letter to the Philippi church, overflowing with joy. It includes valuable pastoral advice for daily Christian life, including suggestions for prayer. As in other letters, Paul exhorts his friends to pray in all situations. And “don't worry about anything,” he says, but bring everything before God.

Paul also mentions a vital ingredient: praying with a grateful heart. Indeed, "thanksgiving" is one of the fundamental characteristics of the Christian life. With a grateful heart, we can recognize that we are completely dependent on our loving and faithful Heavenly Father. Paul assures us that when we bring everything to God in prayer with thanksgiving, we will experience the peace of God that beats all conventional wisdom and keeps us secure in Jesus' love. My grandmother knew and loved that he reminded me.

Prayer: Father, fill our hearts with thanks for your many, many blessings and help us reach out to you in all situations. Amen.