To Prepare And Equip

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

—2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

Creator God,

You are the One who breathed out life, by Your divine inspiration, into Your Holy Scriptures—just as You breathed life into the men that You anointed to write down Your words—so that we could be prepared and equipped to do every good work.

Thank You that Your Word is alive, given by Your inspiration, and available to me—so that I might learn of all of the wonderful blessings that are mine, when I choose to live in Your love.

Thank You that it brings me to the knowledge of what is true and—when I apply that truth to my life—it shows me those things that are wrong in my life which need to be changed.  But it doesn’t stop there.

Thank You that Your Word tells me how to do what is right and good—so that my thoughts, words and actions can be in agreement to Your will for me—and so I can experience the blessings of joy and peace that obedience to You brings.

Thank You that because of Your Word—and through the power of Your Word—I can be thoroughly equipped and ready for every good work that You have planned for me.

You are the One who breathed out life, by Your divine inspiration, into Your Holy Scriptures—just as You breathed life into the men that You anointed to write down Your words—so that we could be prepared and equipped to do every good work.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

By Faith, By Love, By Hope

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

—1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

My God and Father,

Remind me always that a person’s best work is produced by faith, that a person’s most honest labor is prompted by love, and that a person’s strength to endure all things can only be inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Help me to remember to give thanks for those people that You have placed in my life whose best work is produced out of their absolute faith in You—for their example of steadfast faith which challenges me to trust You more.

And to give thanks for those who emulate Christ’s labor of love for the sake of those who He died to save—for their example of love in action that prompts me to love more fully and express that love more completely.

And to give thanks for those whose endurance is made possible by their hope in our Lord Jesus Christ—for their example of patience endurance which inspires me to endure my struggles for the hope that stands forever before me.

Let me always aspire to work by faith, labor in love, and endure through hope—as I make reflecting Your Presence within me my great obsession.

Remind me always that a person’s best work is produced by faith, that a person’s most honest labor is prompted by love, and that a person’s strength to endure all things can only be inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Thoroughly Equipped

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

--2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Creator God,

Thank You that just as You breathed life into man, so You breathed life into Your Holy Scriptures.

Thank You that Your Word is alive, given by Your inspiration, and available to me so that I might learn of the wonderful blessings of Your love.

Thank You that it helps me know what is true and shows me what is wrong in my life—but it doesn’t stop there.

Thank You that Your Word tells me how to do what is right, so that my thoughts and actions will be according to Your will and not my own—for my own benefit.

Thank You that because of Your Word—and through the power of Your Word—I can be thoroughly equipped and ready for every good work that You have planned for me.

Thank You that just as You breathed life into man, so You breathed life into Your Holy Scriptures.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.