Again, Paul expresses through the letters to the church at Thessalonica that believers will be protected from the challenges of the days to come, especially when the “Man of Lawlessness” is revealed. We must trust the Lord’s keeping power as He unfolds His end-time plan.  He is following the script He wrote to ultimately bring the focus of our world back to Himself.

As we see last day events transpire, we confidently position ourselves in the armor He gives, we maintain a strength of fellowship with God through His Holy Spirit and prayer, and we keep plugged in to His Kingdom that is provided through the local church or assembly of believers.

DAILY PRAYER:   Father, You are in control.  We trust You to keep us safe from all alarm.  We hereby rest in the peace You provide.

DAILY READING:   1 and 2 Thess.

Rather than fear or worry over the future, the Apostle Paul declared, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.”  Let peace be the controlling attitude rather than one that would breed anxiety.

When the New Testament refers to God’s peace, it refers to the feeling one has when all the bills are paid and all offense is reconciled.  Everything is made right, and we can live without stress.

Is this peace that’s available what’s controlling your heart?  If not, pray this prayer.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, cleanse me, renew me, and by Your power, help me make all things right.  Flood my heart with Your peace.  Let it rule me today.  In Jesus name.

DAILY READING:  Col. 1-4

We are instructed to elevate our way of thinking to that of Christ Jesus. What would He think? What would He do?

The other day I told a joke to some leaders at the school which was funny to me, but had an edge of inappropriateness to it. I later thought, Jesus would NEVER tell that.  I promptly contacted each of them to apologize. The slate is clear once again.

Paul gives us a catalog of acceptable thought materials in Phil. 4:8.  Look it up and memorize it.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptsble in Thy sight.

DAILY READING:  Phil. 1-4

There appear to be increasing threats to our well being on a daily basis.  The Lord will not leave us unprotected.  He has given us armor, “So that when the day of evil comes, [we] may be able to stand [our] ground.”  This armor is described in Eph. 6:14-17.

Also essential is that we pray in the Spirit on all occasions. [v.18]

The Lord knows the beginning from the end, so He knows what’s coming.  Because of His armor, we will stand and not fall.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You are our protector.  We trust our loved ones to Your protection. 

DAILY READING: Eph. 1-6

In summary form, the Apostle Paul uses the letter to the Galatians to identify the struggle between the law and the Spirit, and the works of our flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

He catalogs both in chapter 5.

He encourages us to have faith in Christ, and conduct ourselves daily through words and actions from a loving heart.  Love God first – believe in Him – trust Him – love people as you do yourself.  Simple!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, fill us today with Your Holy Spirit, and grace us to show Your love to everyone we meet.

DAILY READING:  Galatians 1-6

The Apostle Paul is a bonafied hero of our faith.  Upon reading the hardships he experienced for the sake of the gospel in 2 Cor. 11, all the struggles we face seem insignificant.  Yet, through his suffering we learn a lesson … that Christ gives us the strength we need to cope.

As Paul stated, the grace that Christ dispenses is adequate.  He knows.  He testifies from experience.  Therefore, we have two great examples of suffering … Christ Jesus Himself, and the Apostle Paul.  I want to hear his stories when I get to heaven.

DAILY PRAYER;  Lord, thank You for the grace You give so we can be strong even when weakened by the issues of daily life.  We trust You.

DAILY READING:  2 Cor. 10-13

As Paul addressed the issue of giving to the church at Corinth, he gave us many fruitful insights we can use to cultivate within our own hearts the giving nature of God.

God is the ultimate giver. It’s the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom.  A father has great joy when he can give to his children.  Just ask me!  The same joy I get when I give to my own children is the feeling God wants us to have when we give to those in need, cheerfully.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, I want to be a giver just like You are.  Thank You for putting so much in my hands that I can thereby give to others.  You are so good to us.

DAILY READING:  2 Cor. 6-9

As Paul described the sufferings he endured to preach the gospel, he was always faithful to refer to the heavenly rewards he labored for.  Whatever pain experienced would be forgotten once given his heavenly body.  Whatever disrespect he endured would pale in comparison to the reward he anticipated on the day he would stand before Christ at His judgement seat.  His overarching goal was to simply please his master, Christ Jesus.

We also are wise to keep our focus on the prize awaiting us in God’s presence after we have lived a life dedicated to pleasing Him.

DAILY PRAYER:  I keep my eyes on You, the Author of my faith.  You sustain me so I can live for You and inherit abundant, everlasting life.

2 Cor. 1-5

We think of mountains as being immovable. Yet, the Lord said if we had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains. [Matt, 17:20]  Hence, mountains should be more easily moved than we should.

Paul encourages us to stand firm {like a mountain) and be immovable.  [1 Cor. 15:58]

We need to stand firm on God’s principles even when the culture seems to be straying.  Governmental resistance is nothing new to God’s people.  The Bible is a record of resistance from society and government from cover to cover.  The day we live in is nothing new

Yet, we stand firm.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You are the Rock of our salvation.  We trust in You alone.  Your Kingdom shall prevail.

DAILY READING:  1 Cor. 13-6

Paul’s flavor in today’s reading encourages Christians to seek the well being of others rather than themselves.  In that we are all members of Christ’s body, we exercise our spiritual giftings for the good of the whole … we honor the members who are less attractive … we deny ourselves the gratification of our own appetites to preserve the faith of those less mature.

Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.

DAILY PRAYER;  Lord, forgive my selfishness.  I give myself to help others.

DAILY READING:  1 Cor. 10-2