“For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:5-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.” Is there any greater want for a friend than their faith in Jesus? It’s so easy to put our faith in other things in this world, but walking by faith in Christ is always the best path. He knows what lies ahead and only He can guide us through our faith in Him. Please pray that we and our friends chose faith in Jesus over faith in us at every turn today. Please pray those truly oppressed in our world today.

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:9-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son”. Amen. Because of His resurrection, He transferred us into His kingdom. All we do is live in faith. He has done it all! Please pray that we and our friends are continually grateful for this good news of Jesus. Please pray for our unbelieving friends to know Jesus.

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:7-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ”. How freeing is it to know we can’t attain righteousness through our obedience? Our obedience comes because He saved us, not vice versa. As our faith in Jesus grows, our obedience grows and our joy grows. We can get distracted by so many things that are not His plan, but His resurrection shows us we have abundant life through faith in Him. Please pray that we and our friends make decisions according to what Jesus says not what the world says. Please pray for Christians to have a overwhelming desire to read His Word.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:14-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” Are we becoming disciples or disciple makers? Are we about making ourselves “better” or helping others know Jesus? If I’m tempted to grumble, I’m probably focused on me, but when I’m focused on Christ, it’s tough not to be grateful. Please pray that we and our friends shine as lights in the world and not run in vain. Please pray for Christians to understand how “social justice” isn’t justice of the Bible.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:3-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Are we relying on Him to transform us or on us to transform ourselves. The former is a relationship whereas the latter is performance and impossible. A relationship is all about Jesus. Performance is all about us. Please pray that we and our friends seek Jesus in everything today. Please pray for Christians to understand Biblical justice and not be swayed by “social justice”.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:29-32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Is it ok to feel angry when people are doing hurtful things? Is it ok to want to correct people who are manipulating the oppressed? God has given us genuine desire for justice, but He also knows we can be in the flesh at times too. These verses describe how we are to handle the injustices of this world. God is not wringing His hands wondering about the outcome, so neither should we. We can abide in Him and have faith that He will walk us through these situations. Please pray that we and our friends speak the TRUTH in LOVE today as we see injustice. Please pray for Christians to be about Biblical Justice.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think”. What does God want to do abundantly through you? Is it possible you will be a part of changing the trajectory of someone’s life today? Will you encourage a friend? Only God knows what abundant plan He has for you today. Have you asked Him what it is? Please pray that we and our friends “seek first the kingdom of God…” Matt 6:33. Please pray for Devon and Jonnell’s group.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:19-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Is the church a building or the body of believers? As you and I interact with non Christians, they are seeing the church and the temple of the Holy Spirit. What if we ran into ourselves before we were believers? Would we want to believe? Would we see that we are grateful for the grace Christ has given us? Please pray that we and our friends relish in being able to abide in Jesus all day today. Please pray for Chuck and Darren’s group.

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:16-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you”. It’s easy to be concerned about all the ways in which our society believes the deceptions of Satan. However, as we focus on Jesus, He reveals the hope in which He called us. He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us. How foolish is it to live in our own power when we can live in the power of the Holy Spirit? Please pray that we and our friends will rely on the Holy Spirit when we are confronted with deceptions of the world. Please pray for Ransom and Doug’s group.

“Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:6-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” We have constant choices throughout the day to feed the flesh or feed the Spirit. The flesh always costs more than we want to pay, but the Spirit provides an abundant crop of its fruit. Please pray that we and our friends enjoy the fruit of the Spirit today. Please pray for Brad and Jeff’s group.