“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
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/php.3.7-11.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”  How important is knowing Christ for us today?  If I had to guess, most of us woke up thinking about something else, but that doesn’t have to stay the most important. “But seek first the Kingdom of Heaven…” Matt 6:33. We can seek Him now. We can spend time with Him until we remember that He is the most important. Please pray that we and our friends trust in Christ today. Please pray for a friend with legal challenges. 

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/eph.5.1-6.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”  Wow!  Do you have a idol?  I have about 10 different ones on any given day and they are hard not to want. However, God knows we can’t worship Him AND something else. Wanting nice things is ok, but they can quickly become the most important thing and that hurts us because only God can truly fulfill us. Please pray that we and our friends place nothing before God today. Please pray for Riley Gilbert and her parents and doctors. 

“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
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/eph.4.29-32.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “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.”  I should read this every hour of the day. How many of us get caught up in the political discussion of the day and never think about these verses?  I know the country needs to change, but I need to change first. Please pray that we and our friends “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  Please pray for Riley Gilbert, her family and her team of doctors. 

“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
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/eph.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.”  Jesus transforms us and we are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Do you forget that like I do?  Do you try to transform yourself instead of trusting God in obedience?  Please pray that we and our friends trust God in the difficult areas today. Please pray for Connor and Knox’s group. 

“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4:1-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/gal.4.1-7.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  Do you see yourself as a son of God or a slave to the world?  How are our priorities different when we are sons of God?  Whose approval do we seek?  Where do we get joy?  Please pray that we and our friends see ourselves correctly and live accordingly today. Please pray for a friend of mine who is struggling. 

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:1-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/gal.3.1-7.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith”.  It’s very tempting to rely on our works and abilities when all is good. Can we be as dependent on Christ in the good times as in the bad?  Would we have real peace that endures?  Does He have a purpose for us that we may not see when not relying on Him?  Please pray that we and our friends abide in the Spirit continually today. Please pray for Frank’s group. 

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:6-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/gal.1.6-10.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”  Why is it so tough?  Why is there a constant choice to please man or God?  There is something about being human that we want to be our own god and will strive against the true God to our own detriment. Please pray that we and our friends seek a relationship with God and live the fruit of the Spirit. Please pray for Danelle. 

“For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13:9-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2co.13.9-10.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “Your restoration is what we pray for.”  We all need restoration and God wants to restore us. Sometimes restoration is painful at the time, but always leads to a stronger relationship with Christ. Sometimes, restoration is pure joy due to being rejoined with God. Please pray that we and our friends seek Christ and Christ only today. Please pray for Phil’s group. 

“And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:12-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2co.11.12-15.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”  How do you recognize counterfeit money?  By being so familiar with real money that something is noticeably wrong. How do we recognize Satan as a angel of light?  Being so familiar with Jesus and what the Bible says that we know something is wrong. Please pray that we and our friends seek to abide in Christ every moment today. Please pray for Phil’s group. 

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:3-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2co.10.3-6.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “and take every thought captive to obey Christ”. Is this possible?  Try this for 5 minutes and you will see how we need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do this. We get to experiment the fruit of the Spirit also. Please pray that we and our friends “take every thought captive to obey Christ”.  Please pray for my friend who is really struggling right now.