“I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:32-35‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/1co.7.32-35.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.”  Do you have anxieties that take your attention away from God?  Maybe some of them are due to marriage or because your not married. I have plenty of anxieties and they are a good indicator that I’m not in right relationship with God. When I’m anxious, I’ve let something or an outcome become greater then God and it’s a good idea to stop and ask Him about it. Please pray that we and our friends keep our undivided devotion to the Lord. Please pray for Phil’s group. 

“Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:20-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/1co.7.20-24.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.”  Do we think about this on a daily basis?  Are you a bondservant of Christ’s or man?  We are born to worship something and we all do worship something. What or who has the most control over you?  Please pray that we and our friends appreciate Christ’s death and resurrection today. Please pray for John’s group. 

“Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/1co.4.8-11.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong.”  How do we handle disagreements of the Bible now?  Do we honestly seek the will of God or how it will serve us?  I find it very easy to obey what I would obey naturally and then rationalize the parts that are difficult to me. However Christ wants all of us and the mindset that comes with that characteristic. Please pray that we and our friends love God with all of our hearts, souls and minds. Please pray for Phil’s group. 

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:11-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/1co.3.11-17.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest”. Will today be a gold, silver, precious stones day or a wood, hay, straw day?  Are you relying on the power of the Holy Spirit or your power. We can’t make good, silver, or precious stones in our power. Please pray that we and our friends be about God’s purpose today in His power. Please pray for CLC. 

“For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:11-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/1co.2.11-14.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”  Do you want to know all the world knows or all that God knows?  God sees next year as clearly as He sees right now. God knows what is in every person’s mind. God has a purpose for everyone of us and has given us unique gifts and talents to be a part of that purpose. Please pray that we and our friends abide in Christ today every second. Please pray for CLC. 

“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:20-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/1co.1.20-25.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “but we preach Christ crucified”.  Is there anything we can add to Christ being crucified?  Watch out if you think there is. The good news is that he was crucified to save us eternally. We didn’t and can’t do anything but believe. Please pray that we and our friends “believe” Christ and not just “believe in” Christ. Please pray for CLC. 

“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16:25-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/rom.16.25-27.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith”.  Is faith tough?  Does it take obedience to have faith in God during trials?  Does it take more when not in trials?  Ask Him for the power to be obedient in faith all day today. Please pray that we and our friends will be led by the Spirit. Please pray for our country. 

“One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:5-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/rom.14.5-9.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.”  We all know God wants us to obey Him for our own good. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. God also speaks to us through prayer, reading the Bible and wise counsel. He has a specific purpose for us that may be different than someone else. He has also given us certain gifts and talents that enable us to fulfill His purpose in ways unique to us. Please pray that we and or friends encourage one another. Please pray for our leaders. 

“Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:11-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/rom.13.11-14.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”  Can you tell when you are being driven by the flesh as opposed to the Spirit. I know I sense a strong sense of “self” or entitlement and lose a sense of peace that was there. When we notice this change, we can ask God to fill us with His Spirit and protect us since temptation is pretty strong. Please pray that we and our friends abide in the Spirit today. Please pray for for a Christian revival in our country. 

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:14-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/rom.12.14-21.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”  How are you doing with that one?  How about any of the commands above?  They may be possible to do in our own power for a while or in certain circumstances, but the only way they can become our character is by the power of the Holy Spirit. These commands should remind us that we absolutely need the Holy Spirit to walk this walk. Please pray that we and our friends depend on the Holy Spirit today. Please pray for Connor’s group.