2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/12/2020)...

"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." 

Max Lucado

"Rather than set aside daily time for prayer, I pray constantly and spontaneously about everything I encounter on a daily basis. When someone shares something with me, I'll often simply say, 'let's pray about this right now.'" 

Thomas Kinkade

2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:8-11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) We (Apostle Paul and companions) think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

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Romans 5:6-11 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/11/2020)...

“You see, the truth is, all of us are where we are as a result of decisions we’ve made, how much we’ve trusted God and how much we’ve doubted Him. He’s provided the best for us. He loves us unconditionally.”

Charles Stanley 

Romans‬ ‭5:6-11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

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2 Samuel 7:18-29 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/8/2020)...

“After God revealed His will through Nathan the prophet, David responded by praying in harmony with what God had said. Prayer indeed is a divine mystery. It’s clear that we are to pray, but we are to pray according to God’s will.”

Gene Getz (Life Essentials Study Bible)

2 Samuel‬ ‭7:18-29‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord? 

What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord. Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant. 

How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. 

And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever. 

O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”

1 John‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

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2 Corinthians 1:13-14 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/7/2020)...

“Some folk say that the Bible is hard to understand. The Bible’s basic truths are not hard to understand...in my humble opinion. However, one may find them challenging to spiritually grasp, accept and faithfully live by.”

Rocky

2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:3-4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭(NLT‬) Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.

2 Timothy‬ ‭3:15-17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 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.

Psalms‬ ‭119:11-12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.

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Romans 8:28 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/6/2020)...

“God often does not spare us from the most horrendous illnesses, tragedies, and adversities that sin on this earth brings. Nor does He usually tell us why He allows awful things to happen to us. When we go through tragedy, we often question God’s love for us...

All afflictions are allowed by God for ‘His purpose.’ Nothing happens outside God’s plan, and what happens is for our ultimate ‘good.’ God is sovereign over every event in a Christian’s life.”

David M. Levy (Israel My Glory, Jan/Feb 2020, pg.23)

 Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

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Isaiah‬ ‭46:9-11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. I will call a swift bird of prey from the east— a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it.

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2 Corinthians 1:12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/5/2020)...

“Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.”

W. Clement Stone

“Integrity is keeping my commitments even if the circumstances when I made those commitments have changed.”

David Jeremiah

“Integrity... does not mean sinless, but it does describe a person who by God's grace "sin less."

Sam Storms

2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.

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Philippians 2:5-11 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/4/2020)...

“As Christians, we know too much about the world and sin to be optimistic, but we know too much about God’s purposes to be pessimistic. The Christian mode is not optimism or pessimism that can wax and wane with our mood. Instead, our attitude must be one of hope. And that hope is Jesus. Hope has a Name!”

Dr. Albert Mohler

Philippians‬ ‭2:5-11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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