“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”. I love the progression of suffering to hope. I wouldn’t have put character producing hope, but Paul is right. If we don’t have a proper perspective of life, we don’t truly have hope. We will be tempted to put hope in false things as opposed to the truth. Please pray that we and our friends see clearly how suffering will lead us to hope. Please pray for orphans to be adopted.

“just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭4:6-8, 23-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because David says, “blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” How much do we appreciate the fact that Jesus came to this world and died so we could have a relationship with God? We may think about it over Easter, but shouldn’t we be filled with joy daily when we realize what He did for you and me? Please pray the we and our friends dwell on this today and realize the joy He produces in us. Please pray for our unbelieving friends.

“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

All,This stands out because Isaiah says, “lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.” Have we heard but never understood or seen but never perceived? Pride in ourselves can hinder us from a lot that God would have us hear and see. Are we more concerned about our will or God’s will? I think we need to know the answer to that question before making any decision. Please pray that we and our friends hear and see and God heals us. Please pray for all the victims of sex trafficking.

“After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭28:1-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “they changed their minds and said that he was a god.” Does your mood go up or down depending on how certain people think of you? It can be real tough if you are a natural “people pleaser”. We never know what circumstances will come our way or how we will react or others perception of the situation. However, we do know that God has seen it all and He knows if we care more about His opinion than others people’s. Please pray that we and our friends always put God’s opinion of us at the top. Please pray for our country today.

“Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭27:39-44‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “And so it was that all were brought safely to land.” Just because God gave Paul a vision of a outcome, He didn’t say it would be without trials along the way. Paul stayed obedient and kept his eyes on the promise in the midst of several twists and turns. Are you doubting a promise God has told you in prayer, in His Word or through wise council? Please pray that we and our friends ask God for strength to be a part of His purpose in obedience to Him. Please pray for the children who would love to be adopted.

“Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 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. Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭27:8-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.” Are you ever in a position of having to choose between God’s nudges and professionals in a certain field? It doesn’t happen often, but I don’t see God as ever being wrong. He sees the future as clear as He sees today. He also wants the best for us. Please pray that we and our friends will pray, seek wise council and read the Bible when we are confronted with this type of choice. Please pray for a friend who had a stroke yesterday.

“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. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭24:10-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” How peaceful is a clear conscience? As humans we can get tangled up in stuff all the time, but God is there to hear our confession and repentance and give us the power to go forward with a clear conscience. Christ died so we can have a unblemished relationship with Him. Please pray that we and our friends always confess any offense to God and repent of any sins. Please pray for the victims of sex trafficking.

“Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭23:16-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.” We should never doubt that God is never surprised of any situation. He is never worried about the future as we may. Even in the darkest times, we are to look to God and put all our hope in Him for this temporal life and the eternal life. Please pray that we and our friends see what God would have us to see today. Please pray for all the kids looking for parents to adopt them.

“And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭23:7-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because the Lord says, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Anywhere the truth is spoken, there will be strife as darkness doesn’t want light shining on it. It’s easy to go along with the world. Christ encourages Paul towards His eternal purpose for all His children. Not only did Paul speak to his current generation, but gave us most of the New Testament with the books he wrote in these journeys. Please pray that we and our friends will speak truth in every circumstance. Please pray for the victims of sex trafficking.

““Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭22:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death”. I love how Paul always finds commonality with his audience. Here he connects with their zealousness around their passion. Do we find commonality with unbelievers around a shared passion? William Wilberforce was able to do that and he stopped the slave trade in England. Please pray that we and our friends see others as God sees them. Please pray for a friends wife who had a mysterious illness this past week.