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Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks! (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always,

When I first “claimed” a bible verse, one I could cling to no matter the circumstances, it was Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually,

I remember how excited I was when I first came across today’s scripture because it echoes the same ideas: Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks! How much richer my life would be if I could always put these ideas into practice. But I’ll press on toward the goal….

1 Thessalonians 5:18a give thanks in all circumstances;

Lord, Thank You for the simple truth contained in these verses. Help me to always rejoice in You. Help me to continually pray to You. Help me to give thanks to You in all circumstances. Draw me closer. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:18b for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed day.

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An eternal home…. (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

Lord, Thank You that because of You, we do not grieve as those who have no hope when a loved one dies. The earthly separation is painful, but we know we will see our loved ones again. Thank You.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Lord, Thank You for the power to encourage each other with this amazing news—You have conquered death. We have an eternal home in You. Earthly death is only a temporary “See you later” until we meet again in eternity. Thank You.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Lord, Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. Thank You that because of You, I do not grieve as one who has no hope. Help me to encourage others in Your name. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Have a blessed day.

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The power of encouragement…. (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

Lord, Help us never forget the power of encouragement during trials. You created us for community. You created us to edify each other. Give us wisdom and courage to speak Your love and truth to each other in trials, as a lifeline to You.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

Lord, I know I get very afraid of saying the wrong thing when someone is hurting and struggling. And I know I’m not the only one. Help us seek You when we are trying to encourage others. Even if we make a mess of the words, help the receiver to see Your love and compassion in our bumbling attempts.

1 Thessalonians 3:13a May he strengthen your hearts….

Lord, Thank You for being our rock and fortress, our salvation, our very present help in times of trouble. Help us to encourage each other and assist each other as we walk each other through the trials of this world. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 3:13b …so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Have a blessed day.

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On this day of thanksgiving…. (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 2:3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

Lord, On this day of thanksgiving, help us to hold You foremost in our hearts. Help us to do everything in You, with You, and for You.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

Lord, The call of this world can be so loud. Help us to focus solely on You, to encourage each other in You, to remember and remind each other that it is not this world nor the opinions of this world that matter. Only You.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.

Lord, On this day of thanksgiving, I say a special prayer of thanks for every precious soul who reads my words. May they see You clearly in every line. May they know how precious and loved they are. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 2:6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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The power of prayer…. (devo reflection)

1 Thessalonians 1:2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.

I wonder what would happen if we truly embraced the power of prayer. I think sometimes we forget how powerful it can be to lift others up to our Savior, to pray for them and with them.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 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.

I’ve tried it a few times—instead of simply saying, “I’ll pray for you,” asking, “May I pray with you?” It can be a smidge awkward. But it can also be incredibly powerful for all involved.

1 Thessalonians 1:4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you….

Lord, Forgive us if we underestimate the power of prayer. Help us to pray for and with each other. Help us tap into the faith, love, and hope that can be found in lifting prayers to You. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 …because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.…

Have a blessed day.

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God’s amazing grace…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 4:5a Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders…

I will not argue with someone about my faith, what I believe. I will not justify or defend my religious stance. I don’t feel I need to, but I also don’t feel equipped to, so I leave that to others who have the skill for it.

Colossians 4:5b …make the most of every opportunity.

What I do feel adept at is showing my daily struggle, showing the way God shows me love, compassion, and grace—again and again and again. My silence in my struggles breeds shame, but being honest about my fleshly humanity and God’s amazing grace at least helps others to see they are not alone in their slogging and that God’s grace is ever present.

Colossians 4:6a Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt….

Lord, I started this morning’s devo thinking You would have me write about areas where I feel weak—defending my faith. Thank You for turning the narrative on its head, for giving me the strength and skill to share my humanity to bring Your hope and comfort to others. All the glory is Yours, Lord. Always. Amen.

Colossians 4:6b …so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Have a blessed day.

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Loving others well…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Lord, It is so easy to let ourselves get caught up in earthly things, things that do not make a difference in eternity. Help us, all of us, stay focused on You, Your love, Your grace, and not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Lord, We don’t know what others are going through, how difficult their journeys are. Help us to be kind, compassionate, humble, gentle, and patient with others, walking with them in love and support instead of anger and judgment.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Lord, Not a single one of us has earned Your love, compassion, and grace, and yet You lavish us daily with all three. Help us to love others in this way—not because of who they are or who we are but because of who You are. Help us to love others well. Amen.

Colossians 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Have a blessed day.

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To overflow with thankfulness.… (devo reflection)

Colossians 2:2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ….

Lord, help us to “be encouraged in heart and united in love” so that we can know You more, know You better, continue to live in You.

Colossians 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him….

Lord, Help us to sink our roots into You, to nourish ourselves in You alone. Help us to be strengthened in faith and to overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:7 …rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Lord, This world tries to distract us from You, to convince us that this world can nurture and sustain us. It cannot, Lord. The world will leave us hungry, empty, searching. Only You can nurture and sustain us. Only You can give us life. Help us to choose You. Always. Amen.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Have a blessed day.

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Amazed and humbled…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

For in Him all things were created. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Through Him we are reconciled to Himself. I was created IN Christ, BY Christ, and THROUGH Christ. It is BECAUSE OF Christ that I hold together and that I am reconciled to Him.

Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

When I sit with the truth of these verses, I am truly amazed and humbled. I owe everything I am, everything I have, to Christ. He loves me deeply, fiercely, completely, not for anything I can do for Him but simply because I am His and He is mine.

Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him….

Precious Savior, “Thank You” feels wholly inadequate to express my love and gratitude for all You are to me and all You’ve done for me. Help me to live fully as Your deeply loved child and to show others Your all-encompassing love. Amen.

Colossians 1:20 …and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Have a blessed day.

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The Lord is near…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

What strikes me in this passage is that Paul is encouraging them to rejoice in the Lord always and is modeling this attitude of rejoicing for them while he is in prison. There’s no irony in his words. He doesn’t say he’ll rejoice when he is released. There’s only joy and encouragement in the Lord.

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

And how is it that he can rejoice, even in his present circumstances? How is it that he can be anxious for nothing, pray about everything, be thankful? Because the Lord is near.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Lord, Forgive me when I grump and complain. Thank You for the example of Paul’s attitude of rejoicing in and prayers and petitions to You in all circumstances. Help me to be mindful always that You are near. Wrap me in Your peace. Amen.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed day.