I Think Of You

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Philippians 1

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 I always pray for you and I make my requests with a heart full of joy. 7 It’s right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart.  (Philippians 1:3-4, 7 NLT)

As I write each day’s GraceNotes devotional, I write from the Spirit-stirrings in my heart—sometimes encouragement, sometimes convicting challenge, and sometimes a mixture of both. As I begin to write, I think of you: Faces of friends, names of people I know and love in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Jamaica. Friends in the UK, across Europe, the Middle East, Asia. Friends in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa. Don’t be disappointed if I didn’t mention your nation or location. Many of you are reading GraceNotes in places I haven’t visited!

With my health condition and the necessity of regular maintenance chemo for my cancer, I wonder if I’ll ever be able to see old friends again and make new friends in faraway places I haven’t visited yet! Age 82 is knocking on my door, and it’s likely that my overseas air travel is in the past rather than the future. Time will tell!

But each morning, I think of you. God brings your face or name to mind, and I think of a time we were together, a word you spoke to me, an experience we shared.  And I thank God for you. Sometimes I pray a specific prayer for you because I know a challenge you’re facing. Sometimes I simply smile and speak a blessing for you.

This morning, I let my thoughts sweep around the world and many of your names and faces came to mind. I miss you! Dear friends I’ve never met, I thought of you as well. I’d love to see you and share a moment of grace with you. I pray that these daily GraceNotes devotionals encourage, challenge, and bring you hope each day as you face life’s joys, pain, and routines.

And I hope that as you read each day, you’ll think of me with thankfulness, then think of others you can share a moment of grace with or speak a blessing to. I’d love to hear from you! Take a moment to click “Reply” and say hello!

Prayer:

Father, Thanks for each person reading these words today. Thank you joyfully and longingly for friends and family near and far. Thank you for readers far and near I haven’t met face-to-face. My treasures! Please bring them to mind each day for a fond memory, a burst of thankfulness, and a prayer of blessing. Amen.