“He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.””‭‭Romans‬ ‭4:19-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.4.19-22.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”” We all know how Abraham struggled to believe how God was going to fulfill His promises to him. However, Paul states here how Abraham’s faith didn’t waiver, but it grew strong. Is God enabling you to “see” as you are faithful in trusting Him? God wants to give us abundant life and it seems we can understand that the more we step out in our faith in Him. Please pray that we and our friends trust God today in that “seemingly minor” act of faith or trust. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:21-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.3.21-25.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “justified by his grace as a gift”. A good friend of mine asked me why God makes it so hard to follow Him. It’s understandable that he would think that, but he is forgetting that God didn’t chose for Adam to sin. Since we all “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, we should appreciate daily the gift of grace that we have and ACCEPT it. When we really understand the gift, we are so appreciative and trusting that it is easier to trust God and what he nudges us to do. Please pray that we and our friends dwell on this gift of grace today. Please pray for the CLC PRayer breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.2.1-4.esv
All,
This stands out because it reminds me how badly I need Christ. There is a balance that is needed when speaking the truth in love. Christ lovingly spoke the truth to lead us to repentance. Is it possible to use discernment without condemnation? Paul says, “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Please pray that we and our friends seek Christ and ask Him to transform us and to conform us into His likeness. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18. 

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.1.16-18.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith”. From faith for faith? Faith produces faith? Paul seems to make a major point here that faith in a little enables us to have increasing faith. A friend, Adam Pannell, gave a great lesson boiling down what he was ABSOLUTELY sure of in the Bible and how that enables him to believe in the parts that are harder to wrap our heads around. God seems to enable us to understand more and more as we believe and trust more and more. Please pray that we and our friends are faithful to God today. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast with Bill Curry on 2/18.  

“When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: “‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’”‭‭Acts‬ ‭28:23-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.28.23-27.esv
All,
This stands out because the Jewish people in Rome were offended by Paul also when he quoted the Bible to them. Who of us are not convicted when we read something that seems to be directly aimed at us, but we really don’t want it to be the truth? The Bible uniquely convicts me and encourages me towards God’s purpose. It is living and breathing daily. Please pray that we and our friends are open to God’s twists and turns today and seek His will in all of it. Please pray for the CLC prayer breakfast on 2/18 with Bill Curry. 

“As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.”‭‭Acts‬ ‭27:33-38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.27.33-38.esv
All,
This stands out because God has a plan. Why eat the bread now? Why circle Jericho 7 times? Trusting in God usually puts us against the grain, but it lets us know it was His power and not ours. Please pray that we and our friends see today as God’s day and view all circumstances in light of His purpose. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast with Bill Curry speaking on 2/18. 

“saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭27:10-12, 21-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.27.10-12,21-25.esv
All,
This stands out because even though they didn’t follow God’s nudge to stay at port, God still had a plan. Unfortunately, the centurion has to deal with consequences of a bad decision, but Paul would still stand before Caesar. Please pray that we and our friends follow God’s nudges today and make each moment about His purpose. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast on 2/18. 

“And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles— to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”‭‭Acts‬ ‭26:15-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.26.15-18.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” It is tough to see friends who are caught in the downward pull of Satan. The path has money, lust, and temptation all over it and it’s very difficult for them to see that it’s leading to death. Please pray that we and our friends pray for our friends caught in this downward pull and tell them Jesus died so, “that they may receive forgiveness of sins”. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.”‭‭Acts‬ ‭25:18-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.25.18-19.esv
All,
This stands out because the judge (Festus) is perplexed about the charge and only sees “certain points of dispute with him about their own religion”. It seems if a person has a worldly mindset, then theological differences seem minor and at best a nuisance. I’m sure Paul was wondering what purpose God had in all of this, but we have the luxury of history to know why this was all so significant in God’s purpose. Please pray that we and our friends speak the truth IN LOVE even if it seems insignificant at the time. Please pray for the CLC Prayer breakfast on 2/18. 

“And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,
And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭24:2, 10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/act.24.2,10.esv
All,
This stands out because Tertullus credits Felix with creating peace, but Paul acknowledges that he is a judge of the nation. Both men have drastically different view points of who is really in power. Paul knows that only God can create peace in a nation and the leaders of the nation are merely judges that God has placed in power. If we see the government as having more power than God, then we would be tempted to worship the government over God. Unfortunately, there are many people who have placed a higher priority on something over God. Please pray that we and our friends speak and show clearly who we put our trust in and who we deem to have the ultimate power. Please pray for your friend who doesn’t have peace in his life.