Read 2 Timothy 1:3-4.
What brings out a thankful heart of prayer? In these short verses, the main thought is Paul’s thanks to the Lord for Timothy. We can imagine Paul beginning to compose this letter, and, as he does in most of his letters, begins with a word of thanks for the recipients. In this case, his heart is moved as he recalled Timothy – particularly his tears. While the details are not known, I suspect these were tears of sadness as Paul and Timothy parted ways. Paul missed Timothy, his closest companion, and longed to see him again that he might experience unspeakable joy. Paul says of Timothy in his letter to the Philippians, “I have no one else like him…” (Phil. 2:20) No doubt thoughts of Timothy helped soften the harsh experience of imprisonment and forthcoming execution. And so Paul prays night and day for Timothy. There is no other record of Paul praying for anyone else or any church with such frequency. A close relationship with others is often expressed in prayer. What brings out a thankful heart of prayer? Close relationships that remember the goodness of others.
To consider: Do you have that kind of relationship with someone whose affection for him or her causes you to thank God all the time?
Personal thought: While I may have relationships like Paul and Timothy, to be honest, I don’t pray like Paul with thanksgiving night and day. I suppose I have taken those relationships for granted. I think also that those relationships are accessible to me right now whereas Paul and Timothy were separated. Because Paul missed Timothy so much, it may have prompted him to pray more. Sometimes we don’t know what we have in others until they are far from us. I want to encourage you to take some time reflecting on the goodness of those close to you so that it might spawn a heart of thankfulness to God. Developing that kind of prayer life (with thanksgiving) is perhaps one of the ways Paul was able to have such a good attitude in terrible circumstances and surroundings, and it is perhaps helpful for us to have that same attitude despite circumstances.