power

1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

Unless we see God’s power at work, all the words in the world are not going to sway us to trust in Jesus. Unless the Holy Spirit fills us, we will not see God’s power at work enough to drive us to trust. Unless we are intentionally open to the possibility of the Holy Spirit, the whole process can’t begin. Faith begins with an invitation to a way of life.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you more vision of what God is doing in your life.

hidden

Colossians 3:3
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

When we give our lives to Jesus, we die to using human instinct and human desires as the source of our actions. The last thing I want to do is to go by my gut instinct or look within myself to get direction to how I am to live my life. I trust Jesus and his ways so much more then I trust me. I will rest in him.

Pray for confidence knowing Jesus holds you safe.

impossible

Eph. 3:20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

This goes along with the similar themes for this week. When God works through us, we become someone we can’t fathom. “Infinite” is beyond measure. It is wise to ask God to give us the vision to see the impossible as the area’s of life most worthy of living in.

What impossible thing might God have in store for you today? Pray about it.

unlimited

Eph. 3:16
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

When we worry about how we can be a blessing to the world, a better spouse, parent, friend, a more effective disciple, then we are really wasting our time. We can have concern, but why would we worry? There are unlimited resources for us to do God’s work.

When we worry over things that God is not blessing or does not want blessed, then worry is a good thing because we ought not be doing those things in the first place. Worry might actually force us to get back on God’s track.

Pray for the areas of you life where you need God to show up the most.

good news

Eph. 3:7
By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

When we serve God the way he intends us to serve, we are privileged to be doing what we are doing. It is only when we are serving in arenas we aren’t gifted in, don’t have passion for, or aren’t areas God is calling us to address, that we might be dragged down. Ministries that have something to do with “spreading the Good News” are a strong indicator of possible strength.

Pray for God to give you appreciation for what he is doing.

promises

Eph. 1:18
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Light reveals God’s love and God’s promises. Light also reveals the sin we hide in our hearts. We have confidence because we know God’s Kingdom is sure, and God is in charge. The revelation of our
sin means we don’t have to try to save ourselves but rely on God’s mercy and faith. We can change because it is up to him, not us.

Pray that God would give you a stronger sense of his promises.

2 Cor. 12:9
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Why would God’s power work best in weakness? Think of it this way. If there is anything you can do on pure human power then you don’t need God to show up. When he doesn’t, don’t be shocked. It is only when you stretch enough to have to have God show up, or else, it will be a disaster, then he shows up in power. So, God’s power is seen when our weakness is exposed.

Pray for God to stretch you today.

no worry and truth

2 Cor 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

When God is the source of what we are doing we really don’t need to worry about a thing. Another way of saying this is when God is not behind what we are doing, all we will do is worry because it isn’t going to work out in the end. So, to end worry, discover what God is doing in your world today and join him.

Pray for God’s guidance on what you ought to be thinking about today.



2 Cor 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I can learn from someone who doesn’t trust in Jesus, but not in anything that has eternal significance. I can share what I have in common with someone who is not a disciple, but I can’t agree on the ultimate. Jesus, alone, is the truth. I don’t know the whole truth but I know who does. That makes all the difference.

Pray for clear teaching of the truth of Jesus.

why share the Gospel?

basic Christian evangelism

satisfy

1 Cor 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Paul worked hard for the Lord. What did he do? He gave his whole life. Does this mean we are to do the same thing? Yes, give our whole lives, assuredly. Work constantly? Not in the way you probably think.

In whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord. If God is specifically guiding you, you will know it because you will be energized and alive. 5 hours will seem like 5 minutes. We aren’t trying to be martyrs or exhaust ourselves under the strain. God satisfies.

Pray for a sense of what God is calling you to do.

tools

1 Cor 12:11
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

We aren’t called to be multi-talented, on fire, everything-I-do-is-a-raving-success Christians. We are called to use the strengths the Spirit has given us and focus our time and energy where we have the greatest influence in arenas where we have the most passion. God uses our gifts, interests and personalities as tools to work through. We all have the same general calling. To be an influence to draw people closer to Jesus who don’t know him and/or building up the trust and confidence of people who do.

Pray for God to use one of your gifts and passions to do something this day.

not enough

1 Cor 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.


The Word is used to give us faith. The Word encourages us, teaches us, corrects us, and energizes us. Yet, words are not enough.

We can say things anyway we want, but if we don’t have the Spirit of God behind us we will fail. More than any other way we open ourselves to the Spirit by reading God’s Word carefully and acting upon it. There are no shortcuts.

Pray for more openness to the Holy Spirit.

model

Romans 14:17
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.


Paul is specifically talking about whether Christians can buy and eat meat that is sold after being sacrificed in a Roman religious ceremony. He says for some it may be a sin because it causes you to stumble, and for others it’s not. Then, he makes the more general statement. Don’t get so caught up in matters of social protocol that you overlook the bigger picture. You are not a rule follower as much as you are a model of what kind of life is coming out of you.

Pray for God to keep you firm in his ways while giving you the grace to quietly decline living ways that are not his.

urges

Romans 8:12
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

Somewhere we lost all logic when we began talking about genetic or physiological “causes” to behavior. There may be genetic and physiological urges that are within us, but that has nothing to do with behavior. There is nothing that says we have to act. Behavior is acting out on the urges. It is wrong to say humans have no choice. Of course we do. There is a gap between the urge and the chosen action. For almost everyone of us, we get up in the morning and we choose to do many things. We are not robots being controlled by our body “switches.”

The key to a healthy life includes doing things your body and urges are telling you not to do, and avoiding acting on what your body and urges are telling you to do. How will you know? Jesus and his Word are the measures of healthy living.

What excuses do you make for behavior you know at your core is sin? Pray about this.

extremes

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we don’t know the freedom of Jesus and how he brings new life into our lives then we are not our best true selves. We will live on the extremes of being so self-loathing that we have a constant negative pall over everything and everyone around us, or we have deep self-centeredness, where narcissism is seen by the people forgotten in our path. Either way sin takes away from our lives rather than the abundant life Jesus has in mind.

Where do you lean the most: self-loathing or narcissism? Begin praying yourself out of it.

body

Romans 6:13
13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

If we are going to get into trouble, our bodies are likely to get involved. Whether it is addiction or being influenced by unhealthy habits, there is a way out. Jesus provides freedom and new life. We provide our presence and willingness. When Jesus works through us, we have new life and glorify God by our body.

What do you need to work on in regard to challenges of body?

Bible Study on Colossians 4 and 5

the influence of Jesus on our relationships

wealth

what does Jesus say about wealth?

favor

Acts 28:10
10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

Paul and his companions healed the sick on the island of Malta. When they were about to leave the people gave them honors and provisions. Notice Paul doesn’t refuse the honors nor the supplies with a sense of false modesty. He allows the people of Malta to be appreciative. It is a gift of hospitality to allows others to practice hospitality.

Pray for someone who has shown you favor recently.

pray for

Acts 23:11
That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

God is keen on getting his message out. On rare occasions, he actually has to tell us directly. Most often, though, we know what to to do, it is just a matter of doing it. Why not make it an ongoing habit to let it be known that you would like to pray for someone whenever they share a concern? This is the most effective way of intersecting faith and life, whether in friendships, at work, or in other public situations.

Pray for someone today.

Acts 19:20
20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

After confessing their sins, residents of Ephesus see the power of forgiveness in action. The message and actions of the forgiven have a strong impact on the community. This is an invitation for us today.

When we honestly confess our sins to God and do not carry around the guilt, but instead begin to work for the Lord fresh, we will see his power. Unrealized forgiveness drags us down just like unrepentant sin. Either way we are focused on ourselves and not God.

Confess any current sins that are dragging you down and let them go.

dance for God

what does David dancing have to do with adoring God?
just about everything

courtesy

Acts 15:12
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Are you kidding? The Gentiles are enemies of the people of God up until this point. Yet, their fellow Christians listen quietly as Barnabas and Paul tell them that God is now at work around the Gentiles. There is no heckling or outcry as they tell their story. It is interesting when you have a common vision to spread God’s gospel around the world that you can show courtesy and respect.

Pray for this kind of courtesy to enter into your family conversations.

Jesus

Acts 14:27
Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.

When God is at work is extraordinary ways, it is not a good idea to keep it a secret. Yet, this is what is happening right now. Who knows that it is Christianity and not Islam that is growing most rapidly around the world? In Asia, Latin America, and Africa in particular, people are coming to saving faith in Jesus exponentially. In China, for instance, people are coming to Christ so quickly it amounts to 10,000 people a day.

God apparently has something else in mind then a common logical fallacy that “all religions lead to the truth.” If you mean by this, “All worldviews have inherent within them ways to connect to the Gospel of Jesus,” then, of course, you are correct. The difference between this and other missionary movements of the past is the current growth is under the leadership of native culture leaders who are able to contextualize the Gospel truths. Fascinating.

Pray for those who are translating the Bible into new native languages.