Daily Truth

Today's time being shaped like Christ is in 1 Thess. 5:1-11.Lord,Help me be awake to the need to do spiritual battle today so that I will encourage and build up others (6-8, 11). Since there is no escaping the Day of The Lord, use me to make Your hope known so that people will not be caught unprepared for judgment (2-8). A...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being reshaped by the Word is in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. Lord,Use me today to encourage someone to hope in You as he/she grieves over the death of a loved one (13,18). Our hope of living forever with Jesus and with those who trust Him is grounded in Jesus' death and resurrection (14,17). Help me live today in light of Jesus' coming by bearing fruit that will last when He comes.A...

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Daily Truth

Today's biblical mindset is from 1 Thess. 4:13-18. Lord,Thank You for defeating death (14). Thank You that even though we rightly grieve when separated from loved ones who have died, we know that for Your children, the separation is temporary. When Jesus comes, He will reunite me with all those I have lost. Then together, we all will get to meet Jesus (17). Thank You that I don't have to worry about missing that day since...

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Daily Truth

Today's attitude-altering truth is in 1 Thess. 4:9-12.Lord,Teach me how to love my faith family more and more (9-10). Develop in me a good reputation among those not in the faith family by: limiting my speech only to what You want me to say, not sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, and not mooching off anyone, but rather having a reputation of being someone who works hard for Your (11-12). Accomplish these in me by Your kindness...

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Daily Truth

Today, be transformed by the Spirit-applied word in 1 Thess. 4:1-8. Lord,Thank You for making Your will for my life completely clear. Your will is that I be holy (3-7). Don't let me be satisfied with how holy I was yesterday, but cause me to align my life "more and more" with Christ's holiness that You put in me as a gift (1). Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to teach me holiness. Don't let me ignore You when You...

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Daily Truth

Today, be changed as the Spirit applies 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13. Lord, Direct my way completely today (11). Make my love for Your people, and for everybody grow radically (12). Prepare me to be holy to the core for when Jesus comes again, when He presents me to You, Father (13). A...

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Daily Truth

Today, be changed by 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10. Lord,Encourage me today with the joy of hearing about the growing faith of someone that I have discipled (6-7,9). Make my life's purpose be strengthening others' trust in You (8) until it is complete (10). A...

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Daily Truth

Today, be changed by the truth if 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5. Sample way to pray this text,Lord,Let me choose loneliness if that is what it will take to strengthen others' faith (1-2). Thank You for the privilege of being Your "co-worker" (2). Show me the work You have prepared for me to do today. Put believers in my life to help me stand "unshaken" when I suffer (3,5). Help my faith endure the Enemy's attacks that are sure to...

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Daily Truth

Today's time in the life-changing Word of God is in 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20. Give me a love for Your people that makes me willing to face abuse to help them grow in the Lord (17-18). Those whom You mature in Christ through me will be the only accomplishment worth mentioning when Jesus returns (19). The greatest and most joy-giving thing I can do in this life is to point others to Christ (20). AmenNote: See Acts 16:5-13...

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Be Strong and Show Yourself a Man

Yesterday, my youngest child, my son, graduated from high school. This is a letter I wrote him to mark the occasion: Dear CJ, On your graduation day, it would be good to look back on all of the adventures we’ve had over the past 18 years of your life.  We could reflect on all the funny stories and great memories—the fun...

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Daily Truth

Today's reminder of the Truth is in 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16.God,Enable me to accept Your Words today not merely as human wisdom or opinion, but as Your very instructions to me that powerfully change me unlike any other Words (13). May Your Word effectively enable me to endure hardship for Jesus (14). May Your Word keep me from sin so that I won't cause anyone to stumble whom the Spirit is drawing to be saved (15-16).&nbs...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being shaped by Scripture is in 1 Thessalonians 2.7-Lord,Use me today to grow someone up toward Christ-likeness by being a gentle giver, not a taker (7,9). Let my conduct not cause anyone to stumble (10). Let me encourage others, comfort others, and implore others to walk worthy of God (12). Thank You for calling me into Your rule and greatness (12). A...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being shaped by the Word is in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6. Lord,Make me bold to speak the gospel despite opposition (2). Let me strive to please you rather than people today (4). Examine my heart and remove any impure motives in my speaking Your Truth today (4). Let me not glorify people or live to be glorified by people, but to point to Your greatness alone  today (5-6). A...

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The Prayers of Monica and Mom

Although his father Patricius was an unbeliever until just a few years before he died, Augustine of Hippo was blessed to have a Christian mother. Throughout years of rebellion, sin, adultery and lust, Monica never failed to pray and fight for her son’s salvation. One day in late August, 386, when Augustine was 32 years old, his mother’s...

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Daily Truth

Today's effective Word for us is in 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10.Lord,Let the Gospel truth empower me, connect me with Your Spirit, assure my heart that I am Yours, and be my joy despite suffering (5-6). If others imitate me, let them be imitating You (6). Let the gospel that is changing me "ring out" and change others too, ringing out from them to change yet even more (7-8). Turn me from anything that competes with Your rightful rule...

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Daily Truth

Today we start in 1 Thessalonians 1:1-4.God,Let others see Your grace and peace overflow in me today (1). Let me be known for having a faith that compels me to work at spreading Your rule throughout my life and my world motivated by Your love (2). Cause my hope to be only in You and to last because I know You chose me and love me (3-4). A...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being shaped by God's Word is in Philippians 4:19-23.Lord,Teach me the difference between needs and wants. Thank You for supplying all I need (19). Thank you for revealing Your greatness in Christ (19). Let me live to reveal Your greatness now and always (20). Use me to strengthen the partnership among everybody at church (21-22). Use me to reach those least likely to trust you, just as You saved those in caesar's...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being conformed to Christ by the Spirit-applied Word is in Philippians 4:15-18.Lord,May I be a part of my church's reputation of being a people who give (15). Help my giving  produce spiritual fruit (17). Let it be worthy of and point to Your generosity (18). God, are You pleased with my giving? Make me aware of an opportunity to give today as a way to confirm the truth of the gospel and of Your love for oth...

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