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1 Thessalonians Reading | Week 2 | Day 3
Prayer
Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word today.
Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
Read these verses three times slowly.
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts 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.
Reflection & Questions
Paul concludes this section of 1 Thessalonians with a prayer. There are three requests in this prayer. The first is very practical. He’s asking the Father and Jesus (and if you notice, he places them in equality together) to clear the way (remove Satan’s obstacles) so that Paul would be able to visit with them. This prayer was answered about five years later.
The second and third requests are focused on the hearts of the Thessalonians. He prays about their love and two qualities of their love. Firstly, that it would “increase and overflow.” Paul wants their love to be pouring out without any way to hold it back. Secondly, their love would be for “each other and for everyone else.” He wants them to have a love for each and every person they come across.
Finally, he prays for their hearts. That they would be strengthened. Paul knows that they are suffering persecution and trials. Following Jesus is not easy. Paul doesn’t pray they would have an easier time, he prays that their hearts would strengthen to meet the moments. And he gives the Thessalonians a clear picture of why to stay strong. Jesus is coming back and we want to be ready for Him.
- Think about what you pray for others and even yourself and what Paul prays for. What is similar and what is different?
- Is your love overflowing for everyone? Why or why not? Is your heart strong in the midst of trials? Why or why not?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
