Devotionals

Intro: In our passage today, the psalmist along with God’s people express their joy as they ascend God’s holy mountain—Jerusalem—the City of Peace. They are making their way to the Temple so they can worship the Lord. The desire for God’s presence overwhelms them; they anticipate God’s goodness and love expressed toward them.
For the Old Testament saints, coming to the Temple is not only where they worshiped, it is how they would experience God’s presence. The journey in coming to God, was difficult and many became weary along the way, but the thought of experiencing God’s presence refreshed them, so they pressed on. Being in God’s house even one day was better than a thousand days living in a world filled with wickedness.

For New Testament believers, every day we can come boldly to God’s glorious throne and receive the mercy and grace we need (Heb 4:16). God’s presence brings great peace to our souls; we can handle life with our Helper. Let’s be real, life can be extremely difficult sometimes; even traumatic. To face those difficulties or trauma without God with us is unimaginable. In God’s presence we experience His goodness, grace, and glory; life from his perspective is unveiled before us. Our spirits are renewed and refreshed in God’s presence. He is ready to provide for us and protect us; the Lord is our Shield.

If you are feeling weary today and your soul needs refreshing, please go boldly to the throne of God, now. You do not need to remain dry or empty. God will never withhold anything good from you if your heart is seeking his righteousness [his way of being right]. Trust him and lean into his goodness.

Psalm 84:8-12 NLT
8
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.    Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude
9 
O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!    Show favor to the one you have anointed.
10 
A single day in your courts    is better than a thousand anywhere else!I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God    than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.    He gives us grace and glory.The Lord will withhold no good thing    from those who do what is right.
12 
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,    what joy for those who trust in you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the privilege of coming into your presence each day. We bow before your love and mercy and graciously receive the refreshing joy of the Spirit in our souls. Be glorified with how we use your grace, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Apostle Paul warned and encouraged the Christians in Philippi that as believers they had been given the privilege of trusting in Christ, but they also had the privilege of suffering for Him too. (Phil 1:29)

In today’s passage, the Apostle Peter also warned and encouraged the same message as Paul but to the persecuted Christians living in five regions of Asia Minor.

These messages were not only for the Christians who were being addressed at those times, but also for Christians for all time. You and I must hold firm to these warning and encouragements of Truth because our Judge is returning. Just as Jesus suffered so must we because we are following Him, and the world wants nothing to do with Him.

As Americans, who currently have the freedom to practice our faith, you and I presently only have to endure a “normal” level of persecution for living in a pagan world: slander, mockery, laughter, hatred, etc. But we must not forget that around the world, our Christian brothers and sisters face a great deal of suffering. According to Open Doors’ World Watch List 2022, an average of more than 16 Christians were killed every day in 2021, 360 million Christians, or 1 in 7 believers around the world, suffered significant persecution for their faith, and there were close to 6,000 total martyrs worldwide. So, 2021 saw a 24% increase in Christians killed for the faith.

I read about these losses, and my heart breaks knowing that today, 16 of my brothers and sister in Christ, somewhere in the world, will die in His Name. It is the sinful hatred of the world for God’s Family that brings us closer and closer to Jesus’ return…and it should bring us closer and closer to Him within our faith.

Friends, I have been mocked for my faith, people have questioned the sincerity of my faith, and loved ones have laughed behind my back and to my face about my faith. Jesus allows me to learn about these moments because I believe He wants to see where I will turn. I always have a choice, either turn to Him in prayer and trust that He will handle it, or turn to the world and attempt to get even? We all go through suffering for our faith, and Jesus is refining us for a time of greater suffering. Each time we trust in Him and allow Him to use our suffering for good, He grows us up in our faith more and more, so we learn to trust in Him more and more, and in return He blesses us.

1 Peter 4:12-19

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,

what will happen to godless sinners?”

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your example of suffering. Help us to cling to You when we feel persecution for our faith. Please fill us and our brothers and sisters around the world with Your strength, Jesus. No matter what this world throws at us, we claim our faith, trust, hope, joy, peace, love, and salvation in You, Jesus. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: We live in what Scripture refers to as the last days—the age of grace following the resurrection of Christ and the impartation of the Holy Spirit. The last days and the times of difficulty involve the clash of two kingdoms—the world and heaven. The closer we come to the return of Christ, the more difficult and volatile times will become; sin will be rampant (Mat 24:12). However, we cannot give in to the world’s pressure to reject Christ’s righteous commands of love (Mat 22:37-38).

In our passage today, Paul is instructing Timothy to hold onto sound teaching and to give the Church—the redeemed people of God—a solid foundation to serve Christ and his kingdom. The appearance of godliness is not enough; God cares about the inner attitudes and beliefs of our hearts. Our daily behavior identifies the kingdom we serve. How we treat people matters greatly to God.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT The Dangers of the Last Days
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.

Prayer: Lord, help us to set aside our selfish inclinations and genuinely care about people coming to know you. We reject the spirit of pride and look to please you in how we love and serve your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In 2012, I stood in the Garden of Gethsemane which is located near the foot of the Mount of Olives. I looked at the Olive Trees all gnarled—noticeably old and weathered. I wondered about the true age of these olive trees. Did you know the existing trees in the Garden might be 900 years old? Actually, research was done in 2012 to three of these trees; they were found to be among the oldest trees known to science. The carbon dating from these three trees reveal they could have been sprouts reviving from the roots of the trees that actually sheltered Jesus as he prayed [olive trees can grow back from roots after being cut down]. There’s a great message in the three olive trees! If God can revive the olive trees after trauma, God can revive us, too.

In our passage today, Luke does not tell us Jesus is in Gethsemane [Aramaic—meaning “oil press”], but Matthew and Mark tell us this Garden is the location for Christ’s agony— his intense struggle with evil (Mat 26:36; Mark 14:31). Christ agonized over the cup of suffering that lay ahead; he prayed for the Father’s will over his own and an angel of the Lord came and strengthened him. In contrast, the disciples fell asleep exhausted from grief even though Jesus warned them about the temptation they would face to deny God’s Word. What made the difference for Christ? Prayer. Prayer brought the Father’s provision—strength—to remain obedient. Whatever you are facing today, pray about it and let God bring you an angel of strength.

Luke 22:39-46 NLT Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”

41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the wisdom we find in your Word, today. Help us to pray about everything and trust you will give us the strength to step into victory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: People who spend time in the Word of God understand a day of judgment will one day arrive. Scripture offers us warnings, as well as promises about that approaching day. Prophets have been sent throughout the ages to warn people about being on the wrong side of God—living in ungodliness—while waiting, because the day of judgment for the world is the day of reward for the Church (Mat 5:11-12).

In our passage today, James wants us to be patient with people. To be specific, believers are to be patiently enduring for the glory of God. Patience is frequently developed in the lives of believers during moments of suffering; it is a spiritual fruit that is very desirable to the Lord, but takes time to ripen. Developing patience takes courage and humility. That means we may have to patiently endure mistreatment without grumbling while are waiting on our reward. Let’s be real, suffering mistreatment is a difficult place, because we are dealing with unkind, uncaring, or ungodly people. I don’t know anyone who has endured mistreatment without grumbling except Jesus. Grace is essential for those who want to develop genuine patience; therefore, we must persevere in Christ. How patient are you with people who mistreat you?

James 5:7-11 Patience and Endurance
7 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us as your children develop more of your character each day while we wait for your return. We ask for you to develop patience within us knowing it means we will experience pressing moments. However, you have promised to use our difficulties for our good and in a way that brings honor and glory to you. Daily

In Psalms 57, 58, 59, and 75 we see a clear distinction between David wanting God to destroy the wicked and to protect the righteous. Today we will be reading and reflecting on Psalm 57. In verses 1 – 6 David is devotedly praying and seeking for God’s merciful protection; and then in verses 7 – 11 David is praising God for His constant love.

Please keep in mind that David was being chased by King Saul who was seeking to kill him. Despite those frightening circumstances, David knew, undoubtedly, Who to turn to for his safety. He cried out to God, the Most High, because he knew that God was faithful, and His love endures forever.

Our faith and trust in Jesus should be like David and not waiver no matter what we are facing. God wants to use our difficult circumstances to draw us closer to Him, to grow our trust in Him, and to increase our faith. At the same time, Satan wants us to be debilitated by anxiety, worry, fear, sadness, loneliness, anger, frustration, doubt, etc. so he can draw us closer to him, decrease our trust in God, and decrease our faith.

We must never forget that both heaven and hell are working hard to gain our attention and trust. If we are anchored in our faith and securely trusting in Jesus, we will not only survive the most frightening of current or future circumstances, but on the other side of them we will prosper as the faithful servants of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 57 GNT
A Prayer for Help

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,
because I come to you for safety.
In the shadow of your wings I find protection
until the raging storms are over.

2 I call to God, the Most High,
to God, who supplies my every need.

3 He will answer from heaven and save me;
he will defeat my oppressors.
God will show me his constant love and faithfulness.

4 I am surrounded by enemies,
who are like lions hungry for human flesh.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows;
their tongues are like sharp swords.

5 Show your greatness in the sky, O God,
and your glory over all the earth.

6 My enemies have spread a net to catch me;
I am overcome with distress.
They dug a pit in my path,
but fell into it themselves.

7 I have complete confidence, O God;
I will sing and praise you!

8 Wake up, my soul!
Wake up, my harp and lyre!
I will wake up the sun.

9 I will thank you, O Lord, among the nations.
I will praise you among the peoples.

10 Your constant love reaches the heavens;
your faithfulness touches the skies.

11 Show your greatness in the sky, O God,
and your glory over all the earth.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for Your unending protection, guidance, and love for each of our lives. Please increase our trust in You and grow us up in our faith. We need to be bearers of Your Truth, who are unaffected by the chaos of this world. Help us during difficult circumstances to see You moving and working on our behalf and for our good. Keep us tied closely together, as Your Family, so we can bring Your encouragement to one another during the challenges. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: The integrity of our words is a big deal with God, because we are reflections of Him and His Word. In Christ, we are called to be the living gospel. When we say we are going to do something, God expects us to follow-through reflecting His character. God is faithful to His Word and we must be faithful to our word, because we belong to Christ. God knows His children, because we turn from evil (v.19). We have no right to change God’s Word [falsely interpret] simply because we want it to read a certain way in order to please our flesh. We must be workers or ministers of the gospel who seek to live a life that pleases God. Never forget, it is God’s will that we bear abundant righteous spiritual fruit with our words and actions (Gal 5:22-23).

In our passage this morning, the Apostle Paul is sharing a lesson with Timothy about staying true to the gospel teaching of Christ. Timothy is to remain faithful in what he shares with others in Jesus’ name. During this time, as is the case today, teachers of false doctrine were using their words to steer people in a wrong spiritual direction. They were people pleasers and the people where living ungodly lives as a result. Paul knew this was going on so he instructed Timothy to interpret the Word as Christ revealed throughout His life as He lead God’s people into godliness—abundant Truth.

As Christians, why is what we say such a big deal? Because we will give an account to the Lord on the day of judgment for our careless or fruitless words (Mat 12:36). This is not just for pastors or teachers, my friends. This passage is a reminder for us as Christians to use every word we speak in a way that reflects and glorifies God. Have a blessed weekend!

2 Timothy 2:15-19 NLT An Approved Worker
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us learn the Truth each day about the importance of reflecting you properly. May you have your way in our hearts, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In 2012, I went to Athens Greece with a group of fellow seminarians. While we were there, we toured the Acropolis hill: the citadel that contains the remains of the Parthenon Temple—dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena. Thinking about history and strolling the ancient ruins was fascinating, but what was even more awe-inspiring was standing on Areopagus Hill or Mars Hill. The view of the Acropolis from Mars Hill is absolutely incredible. Originally, Mars Hill was a place for worshiping three female goddesses of vengeance. Then, in around the 7th or 8th century, it became the location of the supreme court for homicide trials—a meeting of aristocrats who served a lifelong tenure debating cases.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul has reached Athens with his quest to spread the Gospel of Christ. He begins to talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus in the synagogues. He goes to Mars Hill where he is invited to deliver a sermon to this Areopagus council of stoics and philosophers. Paul is confused by the many altars erected to strange gods—idols—surrounding him. Essentially, these gods were not even being obeyed by the council; they just had the altars to ensure they did not make any of them angry. These aristocrats actually worshiped either temporal materialism or pantheism—the idea that the divine is the universe. The Apostle walks by an altar built “to an Unknown God” and he takes off on his message using this specific altar to point to Christ as being that God, but who actually wants to be know.

Even today, people may find it foolish to think it is possible to know a sovereign and supreme God of love and compassion—a God who made everything that exists and yet desires to be known through a personal relationship (John 1:1-3). This God is Jesus who serves as our high priest, sacrificial lamb, and the final altar or cross upon which he offers the sacrifice of himself for our sin, so we may know Father God. Never forget sin blinds us to the truth; so salvation brings revelation and opens our eyes to the things to which we have been ignorant. Never stand in spiritual ignorance, let Jesus open your eyes.

If you have never asked the Lord for salvation, please do so, today. If you do not have Christ as your Savior, you will pay the penalty for your own sin against Creator God because we all sin (Ro 6:23). Simply pray, “Jesus, have mercy on me and save me! Please forgive me for my selfish sin against your holy commands of love. Come and make your home in the core of my being, because I want to know you. Now, I realize I am your offspring and in you I live and move and exist. Fill me with the perfect presence of your Spirit and help me live obedient to your love.”

Acts 17:22-34 NLT 22 So Paul, standing before the council,[Mars Hill] addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man [one blood line] he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Prayer: Lord, as human beings we can be so very full of pride and arrogance. Please forgive us. As believers, we know your holy ways and divine thoughts are so much higher than ours. Thank you for Paul’s message today. The Truth helps us know that as we share the Gospel of Jesus, we can find common ground and then witness to the difference he makes in our lives each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: No matter what event I go to or attend, I am inclined to look for the circulating leader and how the rest of his or her team is working. I’m sure that is because for the better part of my life I have served as a leader of people and events. It is so important for every person to know not only the overall vision or plan, but the leader must also communicate the part each person will play and make sure he or she will be willing to perform the instructed task knowing every part matters to the success of the event. A leader should always be there for his or her team and willing to make the greatest sacrifice if necessary.

In our passage today, Jesus is the Leader Extraordinaire! He has chosen his twelve team members and has communicated the vision or plan. The disciples do not need to guess about what they are to do, because Jesus has instructed them well. They are to go to the Jews in various areas and tell them the Messiah is near; Jesus is talking about a spiritual Kingdom. Notice the message is for the Jews first—the lost sheep; the Jews are the ones waiting for their Messiah and he has come (Ro 1:16).

The disciples are to heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons (Mat 10:8). In the midst of sharing the message, Jesus tells the disciples they will need to pick up their individual crosses—deny themselves and anyone or anything that would hinder them—and follow Jesus, because he will be there for them. They are not to be surprised by opposition to the gospel. This experience will prepare the disciples to be passionate witnesses of the power and provision of Christ the Messiah. Christ prepares the disciples about making connections with other believers…even strangers. We must always remember Jesus provides for what we lack, so that we can proclaim blessings when his grace [divine favor] is manifest for our needs.

Jesus speaks to the hearts of people every day. We can certainly talk about the Savior with other Christians and be a blessing, but just remember unbelievers are also listening to what is said in public. The disciples were sent to give the message to the Jews, but when the non-Jews heard about the Messiah, they were also ready to receive the Good News. When it is clear a person wants to talk about the Lord, then bless him or her with your witness.

Matthew 10:5-15 NLT

5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near [coming soon]. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

9 “Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. 10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.

11 “Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. 12 When you enter the home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for instructing us well. As your disciples, we know what we need to be and do in the Spirit. Open windows of opportunities for us to witness to others who so desperately need you and may not know you passionately want a relationship with them! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Some days it appears as if the devil is prevailing in this world, but it is precisely during these moments that we must stand strong in the power of God’s might and resist evil. Satan wants to defeat Christ’s Church through apostasy and deception, so being grounded in the Word of God provides protection and the ability to know the Truth. When we are determined to live a Spirit-controlled life, we will face spiritual warfare. Therefore, we need a defense for spiritual combat. Do you believe you need to protect yourself from the opposition of your spiritual Adversary?

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul wants the Ephesians to wake up and pay attention to the things they can do to cover themselves with the Lord’s protection in the midst of spiritual warfare. It is the Lord who helps us stand strong against the strategies of spiritual evil. Satan works through an evil world’s system. He is encompassed in every sin, immoral practice, false theology, false religion, and worldly temptation. Satan seeks to twist the Word of God, hinder God’s work and servants, hinder the gospel, and trap the righteous (Zech 3:1; Matt 4:6; 1 Thess 2:18; 2 Cor 4:4; 1 Tim 3:7). Because we have changed our allegiance from the realm of darkness and onto Christ the Light of the World, we have to accept those who rule the darkness will not let us leave their power without a fight. Therefore, if we are going to grow in godliness, we must put on the whole armor of God!

Righteousness is brought about by both the impartation of Christ, as well as the transformation the Holy Spirit works in us to bear spiritual fruit as we seek the Kingdom (Mat 6:33). Our faith must be lead by the Peace of God. This is a huge battle all by itself, because the things going on in the world strategically stir fear in people all the time. We must believe and use our faith to trust God to meet our needs even though the times are evil. Even when we are tempted to be afraid, we must use our shield of faith against the fiery darts of the enemy. May the salvation of Christ protect our minds as we stand on God’s Word and pray prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 6:10-20 NLT The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we [all Christ followers] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared [readiness to preach peace with God]. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil [evil one]. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike [all people made holy by Christ]. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put on your armor everyday and continue to walk by faith as I trust in you to protect me and my loved ones in Jesus’ name. Amen.