Daily Scripture Reading
2 Timothy 4:1-8
Day 4 | Thinking of Prayer as Jesus Taught
Ephesians 6:10-24Thinking of Prayer as Jesus Taught "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17Our thinking about prayer, whether right or wrong, is based on our own mental conception of it. The correct concept is to think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the...
Day 3 | “Work Out” What God “Works In” You
Philippians 2:5-13 "Work Out" What God "Works In" You "Work out your own salvation...for it is God who works in you." Philippians 2:12-13 Your will agrees with God, but in your flesh, there is a nature that renders you powerless to do what you know you ought to do....
“Prepared Regardless”
“Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.” (2 Timothy 4:2 NLT)
It’s “in unfavorable times” that we’re stressed simply because we entertain doubt about our “readiness.”
THIS VERSE ADDRESSES every believing follower of Christ, “Preach the Word of God! Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.” In other words, we should “be prepared” whether we feel like it or not. If we do only what we feel inclined to do, some of us would never do anything. There are many who are totally unemployable in the spiritual realm. They are spiritually feeble and weak, and they refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired. The proof that our relationship is right with God is that we do our best whether we feel inspired or not. One of the worst traps followers of Christ can fall into is to become preoccupied with their own special moments of inspiration. When the Holy Spirit gives us a time of inspiration and insight, we are inclined to say, “Now that I’ve experienced this moment, I will always be like this for God.” No, you will not, and God will make sure of that. Those times are evident because the Holy Spirit is reminding us, He is with us. You cannot give them to yourself when you choose. When we say that we will only be at our best for Jesus, during those special times, we become an intolerable burden on Him. We will never do anything unless the Holy Spirit always keeps us consciously aware of His inspiration to us. If we make a god out of our special moments, we will find that the Holy Spirit will fade out of our lives and will not return until we are obedient in the work, He has placed closest to us, and until we have learned not to be preoccupied with those special moments, He has given us.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for all the special experiences You’ve showered on us. Every experience has empowered us to know You’re with us and has encouraged us to be Your witness. Thank You for being our helper during the good, bad, favorable and unfavorable conditions of life.