For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me. Colossians 1:29 How many times have you prayed for God’s strength? As Christians, we often ask God for more of his power, patience or endurance, and we think nothing of it. But is that how the apostles prayed? In today’s verse, Paul didn’t say, “I’m labouring and striving, Father, so could you send me more of your power and energy?” No, he said, “I’m striving with God’s power and energy which, by the way, works greatly within me!” (my paraphrase). Paul didn’t beg God for more strength; he was confident in the strength that was already in him in Christ. In Acts 3:6 …

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16 (AMPC) What’s the deal with confession? James 5:16 says we need to confess our faults, slips, false steps, and offences to one another, but how does this play out in everyday life? Do we need to tell the world every time we make a mistake? Call someone up to confess every time we cut another driver off in traffic? Post a heartfelt confession on social media every time we have …

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. Luke 22:45-46 What’s the best thing to do when you’re tempted? In Luke 22, Jesus told his disciples, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” (v. 40).  Most would assume Jesus meant, “Ask God to help you to not be tempted.” As a result, when we’re facing temptation, we think that we need to ask God to steer us around it. But is it possible that Jesus meant something else? Jesus could have been saying, “If you stay close to God, keep talking to him and relying …

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 The word “grace” in the Bible refers to the amazing ability God makes available within all Christians. It’s a force; it’s a power; it’s a capacity that is freely given to all and experienced by those who believe it is theirs. Rather than living in our own strength and power, Ephesians 6:10 says that we can be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. The trouble is that we’ve all learned to do the opposite. We learn that to make it in this world, we need to be strong, disciplined, independent and determined. Quotes like, “If you want something done right, do it yourself” and “Create the life …

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 Every day you have the chance to express thanks. Telling people why you’re
grateful for them and finding
little things you’re thankful for every day—a good cup of coffee at work, a warm meal at home or even a driver letting you cut in during busy traffic—are all good opportunities to express gratitude. But what about your gratitude for God? How can you show God how thankful you are for him? One way to express thanks to God is simply to say it. You can talk to God anytime to tell him what he means to you. You …