View an in-depth discussion of Reasons for Thanksgiving and Prayer in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
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With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

Daily Lesson for Tuesday 6th of January 2026

The Philippians were understandably distressed when they heard of Paul’s imprisonment. Now his work was severely limited. He could not travel. He could not preach. He could not visit the synagogues and teach people about Jesus as the Messiah. He could no longer raise up churches. The Philippians sent Epaphroditus to ascertain the apostle’s condition, to encourage him, and to ensure that his physical needs were being met.

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

The message Paul sent back with him must have surprised the Philippians. Paul saw his circumstances through different eyes. His spiritual discernment led him to see his imprisonment as a good thing. It didn’t hinder his work at all but “actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12, NKJV). Where others saw only chains and bars, Paul saw his Roman guards as potential souls in God’s kingdom. He saw also that his imprisonment greatly encouraged others to be more active and more determined to spread the gospel, to speak boldly for Christ without fear of the consequences.

It may be hard to imagine, but some actually thought to benefit from Paul’s imprisonment. Apparently, they thought his obscurity would lead to more attention for themselves and their own preaching of the gospel. What a powerful but sad example of human selfishness, even in the church. As Jeremiah said long before Paul: “ ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, / And desperately wicked; / Who can know it?’ ” (Jeremiah 17:9, NKJV).

Fortunately, in contrast, some faithful workers also became more zealous to spread the gospel. They loved Paul so much that the suffering they saw him endure for his faith led them to trust Christ more and emboldened them to be even more active for the Lord. It energized them to go where before they were afraid to go; it led them to speak in situations during which before they kept silent; it led to even more people accepting Christ and spreading the gospel of salvation.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-02-spiritual-discernment-applied/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-02-spiritual-discernment-applied

Daily Lesson for Monday 5th of January 2026

Some years ago, there was a pastor who talked about prayers that revolve around me, me, me, and my needs or desires. He aptly characterized them as “selfish little prayers,” because God has bigger things in mind.

This prayer is only forty-three words in Greek, but it encapsulates all of Paul’s concerns, which he will expand on in the rest of the epistle: love, knowledge, discernment, being sincere, not causing offense, and the righteousness we have through Jesus Christ. Underlying this prayer, as well as Paul’s previous expressions of thanksgiving, is an emphasis on the church as a whole. Paul’s prayer is completely others-focused, on behalf of the whole church and for its well-being. Let’s look more closely at some of the individual elements of the prayer:

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

Love to abound more and more. Paul doesn’t just pray for more love but for love guided in a specific direction: “in knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9, NKJV). The reference to knowledge is not to merely intellectual knowledge but implies a knowledge of spiritual things that can be gained only by fellowship with God and study of His Word (see Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 4:13, 1 Timothy 2:4).

Discernment. This is explained by Paul as being able to “approve what is excellent” (distinguishing it from what is morally harmful) “and so be pure and blameless” (Philippians 1:10, ESV).

Being sincere. The word in Greek means “judged by the sunlight” and refers to an untainted purity of action: “Everything that Christians do should be as transparent as the sunlight.”—Ellen G. White, Reflecting Christ, p. 71.

Not causing offense. This means not being a stumbling block, not saying or doing anything that would make it more difficult for a person to believe.

Righteousness through Christ. Paul dwells at length on this in the epistles of Romans and Galatians and will expand on it also in Philippians 3:1-21. We have no righteousness of our own but only what we receive through Christ.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-02-pauls-prayer-requests/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-02-pauls-prayer-requests

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, Philippians 1:12 NKJV

While no one wants to go to prison, especially if falsely accused of a crime they did not commit, would it be worth it to you to be falsely accused and sentenced to jail if you could lead just one person there to eternal salvation? 

Photo by Ye Jinghan on Unsplash

In Philippians, Paul says that his imprisonment actually helped spread the Gospel and encouraged others to be bold in spreading it. Acts 16 also mentions Paul and Silas being imprisoned in Philippi. They were singing songs of praise while the other prisoners were listening. If you were wrongfully imprisoned, would you be singing songs and praising God? I hope so, because something extraordinary happened. An earthquake opened up the prison. Instead of running for it, Paul and Silas ministered to the correctional officer and led him to salvation. You can read this fantastic story in Acts 16:25-34. 

Much more recently, the Christian Post, among other Christian news agencies, has shared the testimony of a Chinese woman known as Sister Tong. Chinese officials arrested her for having an underground church in her home. After serving her 6-month sentence, instead of complaining, she was beaming with joy about the women’s ministry she had begun right there in prison. Like Paul, being in prison helped sister Tong spread the Gospel and has inspired others in countries where Christianity is illegal to be bolder in spreading it as well. 

When you consider that Jesus left heaven to come to this cold, dark world to live and die to save others eternally, is there any place that is too cold or dark for you to go and save others? Jesus did not complain about coming to this cold, dark world to live and die, but came willingly. See John 10:17-18. Likewise, Paul and Silas were not protesting or pleading their innocence while in prison. They were praising the Lord. What a testimony to the warden and other prisoners! And more recently, instead of complaining about the terrible living conditions in a Chinese prison, Sister Tong beams with joy over being able to lead several women prisoners to Jesus and salvation. 

Paul, Silas, and Sister Tong not only endured prison and persecution to save others eternally, but did so joyfully. Is there any place you are unwilling to go joyfully to lead others to eternal salvation? 

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/are-you-willing-to-be-imprisoned-for-jesus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-you-willing-to-be-imprisoned-for-jesus

The great lesson we learn from dear Paul this quarter is that we are to 
Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus! – Hymn 618. This is a beautiful theme hymn to give us a great reminder of what we need in our world that is falling apart these days.

Throughout this week’s study time, there are a lot of hymns from which to choose which reflect all that Paul says with his thanks and the prayers: 
Hymn 276 – Thanks To God, 
Hymn 559 – Now Thank We All Our God, 
Hymn 566 – Father, We Thank You, 
Hymn 478 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer and 
Hymn 658 – Heavenly Father, Hear Our Prayer. Paul shows us how to love our gracious God and say 
O Love Of God, How Strong And True! – Hymn 79.

With all Paul’s thanks and prayers, he still says 
Go, Preach My Gospel – Hymn 378, all because 
I Know Whom I Have Believed – Hymn 511 (Thursday). This also shows another aspect of Paul’s strengths because he can say 
Only Trust – Hymn 279. We can learn these wonderful Christian (Christ-like) traits by requesting 
Give Me The Bible – Hymn 272 where I can learn so much. 

Further on Thursday, the Holy Spirit comes along to guide us: Hymn 260 – Hover O’er Me Holy Spirit and fill me now. This is all the more poignant as we see such Marvellous Grace – Hymn 109 from the loving Jesus Christ who taught so much to his disciples and can still be doing for us today.

Our dear sister Ellen White reminds us on Friday that 
I’m A Pilgrim – Hymn 444 and by faith we can receive an inheritance when we Trust And Obey – Hymn 590. 

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/2-reasons-for-thanksgiving-and-prayer-singing-with-inspiration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2-reasons-for-thanksgiving-and-prayer-singing-with-inspiration