My first white Bible was a gift from a dear friend soon after I was became a believer in the Lord Jesus. The inscription inside the front cover read: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” [Philippians 1:3] I’ve never forgotten this endearing scripture, chosen just for me. Paul is addressing the church at Philippi because his heart was full of gratitude for the evidence of Christ Jesus’ work in them. Somehow my friend was seeing His hand upon my life; and it brought her great joy.

The Message reads: “Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” [Philippians 1:3-6 The Message]

The receiving of that gift was over 55 years ago. Her influence upon my life led me to Jesus. Her sensitivity to those ‘triggers’ to pray prompted me to accept and to follow Him. And, yes, He did in fact begin a work in me.

Prayer triggers come in the form of promptings motivated by the Spirit of God. Though we often ignore or minimize those triggers, we cannot measure the results that will come when we do in fact heed them. In my case, it led to salvation and strength to walk on with my Savior. Those thoughts that crossed her mind ~ which triggered her prayers ~ changed my life.