“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2ti.4.17-18.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me”.  How often do you feel at the brink of being overwhelmed?  We’ve all been there and sometimes we get through and other times we blow up. How wonderful is it to know that God walks through all our issues with us and strengthens us?  Please pray that we and our friends ask God to strengthen us when we are weak and know He is there with us. Please pray for Jeremy Garlington today as he is having hip surgery. Please pray for a friend that needs strength in court for the next several days. 

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:14-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2ti.3.14-17.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God”.  This one clause in this one verse can be very impactful in how you read the Bible. If you chose to believe it, you will wrestle with the Bible and discuss diligently how to understand the more perplexing parts, but you will also grow very close to God as you cannot rely solely on your intelligence to understand. If you chose not to believe it, I think it will be easier to be tempted. Please pray that we and our friends chose to believe it. Please pray William Curtis and the Curtis family. 

“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:20-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2ti.2.20-26.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.”  No one needs to read this more than me. I often have theological conversations in my head with whom people I disagree and it’s not with gentleness.   How much more effective is “correcting with gentleness” than a argument?  Please pray that we and our friends “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  Please pray for my father-in-law as he heals from his second surgery in 15 days. 

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:6-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2ti.1.6-9.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”  Is there something you fear right now?  Are you trying to tackle it in your power or in His?  He wants us to ask Him for help and wisdom and perseverance. Please pray that we and our friends depend on God when we are tempted to fear something. Please pray for all cancer to leave Brian McDonnell. 

“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:14-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1th.5.14-22.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  I know some of you are not surprised this verse stands out as it’s one of my favorites. These all seem impossible tasks and they are only possible when we depend on God. Otherwise, you could never rejoice ALWAYS or give thanks in ALL circumstances. It requires an eternal perspective and pure faith IN God and His purpose. Please pray that we and our friends obey this verse today. Please pray for Mason Meadows. 

“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
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1th.3.5-9.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.”  Who is thinking that about us?  Who poured into us and has enabled us to have this relationship with Christ?  Is it a parent, friend, mentor, coach?  Please pray that we and our friends let that person know what their love for us has meant to us. Please pray for Drew Meadow’s son, Mason, as the doctors determine if surgery is needed after a baseball tipped off his bat directly below his eye. 

“For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1th.2.1-4.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”  Are we concerned if our speech pleases man, but not God?  God knows all truth, whereas man continually searches. God created all and knows all, whereas man is still analyzing the created. We don’t do anyone any favors if we please them and not God. It hurts us and them. Please pray that we and our friends please God today. Please pray for my father-in-laws healing after a successful surgery. 

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:2-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1th.1.2-5.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Where is our hope today?  Is it in anything but Christ?  Have we spent time with Him today to ask His purpose for our lives?  Please pray that we and our friends “seek first the kingdom of heaven….” Matt 6:33. Please pray for my father-in law, Ladon Willis, as he has a surgical procedure for Parkinson’s. 

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:21-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/col.1.21-23.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death”.  His death reconciled us. I constantly try to reconcile myself, but that’s putting hope in me and not Him. He transforms us and enables us to live out His purpose. Are you stressed about something?  Have you given it to Him?  Please pray that we and our friends realize the hope we have in Christ. Please pray for John’s group to have a great overnight retreat tonight. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/php.4.4-7.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Remember Paul is in prison when he writes these words. He has to be concerned also about the people in the churches he founded, but he says “rejoice”. Does this not force us to see things from a eternal perspective as opposed to a temporal perspective?  Please pray that we and our friends rejoice in our relationship with Christ today. Please pray for a friend with legal issues.