For This Purpose: Scripture, Prayer & Application

Rejoice In The Lord Always

Scripture: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4

Prayer: Lord, we praise You, worship You and rejoice in You always. May we never forget that You are always with us and approach each day with a joy-filled heart. Amen

Application: The enemy is constantly working to distract us from the joy and freedom that is promised to us by God. One of the ways we overcome distraction and separation is through worship and praise.

Take this moment to rejoice in the Lord, celebrate the fact that He loves You regardless of your circumstances!

They Promise Them Freedom

Scripture: They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 2 Peter 2:19

Prayer: Lord, may we honor You and follow the example of Your Son Jesus, following the path of righteousness. Help us to break the chains of our bondage to sin. Amen

Application: This passage reminds us that the world is constantly tempting us to pursue “freedom” by living selfishly. In reality, we become slaves to our own satisfaction, chasing comfort and seeking a world of security and temporary happiness.

Do you have pieces of your life that began as pleasure seeking, and became something you could not break free of? Trust that the love of Christ is big enough to free you from any evil.

God is Love

Scripture: Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8

Prayer: Lord, thank you for showing us what it means to love. We thank you for Your Son Jesus who sacrificed and truly showed us the extent of Your love. May we serve one another in His Holy Name. Amen

Application: God’s love is the greatest power in the entire universe, capable of rescuing us from sin and destruction. We cannot know God unless we know what it means to love others more than we love ourselves.

Bless your valentine today by serving them and reminding them of God’s unchanging, never-ending love!

Paul Visited Him And Prayed

Scripture: It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him. Acts 28:8

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for continuing to heal us through your Holy Spirit, using the faithful to deliver Your message. May we continue to expect miracles that will reveal Your glory in our lives. Amen

Application: This passage is a reminder that miraculous healings continue to occur today through the Holy Spirit. It is also important to remember that the healings occur in God’s timing and for His glory, not simply to make us happy or comfortable.

Are you asking God to move boldly? Are you doing your part by living boldy for Him?

Because He Loved Us First

Scripture: We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Prayer: Lord, you loved us before we ever knew You. May we accept Your love into our lives and let it overflow from our hearts and out to our households, our neighborhoods, businesses, and communities. Amen

Application: Parents, bosses, teachers, and leaders can learn a tremendous amount from the example of Jesus Christ. Thousands of years after His death, we are still in amazement at His incredible sacrifice for us.

Why do we love Him and follow Him? Because He loved us first.

For Of What Account is He?

Scripture: Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? Isaiah 2:22

Prayer: Lord, we repent for placing men in high regard rather than looking to You for leadership and guidance. May we prioritize Your kingdom and give to You our very best. Amen

Application: Too frequently we are distracted by societal and political issues, and forget that we answer to a higher authority. Jesus tells us to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s (worthless earthly treasures), but to give to God that which is God’s (your heart, soul and spirit).

Are you making Jesus the Lord of your life?

Be Patient With Them All

Scripture: And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for inspiring and encouraging us, for giving us hope and for Your incredible patience, forgiveness and mercy. May we pour into our communities and build up our brothers and sisters in Your name. Amen

Application: Community is such a critical element in experiencing the fullness of Christ. None of us can individually be Christ to the world, but within Christian community we each can reflect different elements of His character.

Are you actively engaging in your community, patiently helping, guiding, and encouraging your brothers and sisters in Christ?

We Must Pay Much Closer Attention

Scripture: Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your wisdom and knowledge. May we have eyes to see, ears to listen, and the courage to obey that which You have revealed to us. Amen

Application: In a world that is filled with constant distractions and temptations to stray from relationship with the Lord, it is easy to intentionally or unintentionally neglect to give God the priority he deserves in our hearts and minds.

Are you paying close attention to God and what He is revealing?

Proclaim on the Housetops

Scripture: What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. Matthew 10:27

Prayer: Lord, thank you for speaking to us in the valleys. We pray that the testimony of your saving power will be told through our lives, our prayers, our worship and praise. Amen

Application: In the darkness turn to Him who is the light, fight the darkness by living for Him who saves.

As we tell our testimonies, rarely is one inspired (for the right reasons) by stories of prosperity and comfort. But the stories of finding Christ in our darkest hours and His incredible ability to heal the wreckage of sin can soften even the hardest of hearts.

Proclaim it from the housetops!

The Kingdom of Heaven is At Hand

Scripture: And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Matthew 10:7

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for bringing the kingdom of heaven here to us on earth through Your Son Jesus. May we live our lives boldly, proclaiming as we go, and living to share the kingdom with all that we encounter. Amen

Application: The kingdom of heaven truly is at hand, and our God reigns upon the highest throne. In the kingdom of heaven, the last will be first and the first last (Matthew 20:16)

How are you proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of heaven “as you go”?