Category: Wisdom Prayer

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Wisdom Prayer

How Bad Can It Get?

How Bad Can It Get?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who face dire circumstances.

Are you hated, persecuted, and slandered? Facing hunger and thirst? Homeless?

When Apostle Paul described his situation, it was grim. He explains his response and gives believers an example to follow in 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 (NIV):

”To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.”

It is only by the grace of God that Apostle Paul and other believers are able to respond in such a way. Find yourself in similar circumstances? Respond like Paul.

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Wisdom Prayer

Forget You Are God’s Temple?

Forget You Are God’s Temple?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who acknowledge that God’s Spirit dwells within them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In Acts 2, Luke told what happened when believers assembled on Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit changed everything.

Apostle Paul is writing to the faithful in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV) when he says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

Be mindful of the Spirit within. Are there personal habits or behaviors that need to change to preserve God’s temple? If so, take action now.

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Wisdom Prayer

Building with Care?

Building with Care?

Dear Lord, I pray for those who, like Apostle Paul, build on the foundation of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Some believers regularly share the Gospel. Others come alongside new believers and disciple them. Know anyone doing these things?

Apostle Paul considered himself like a skilled master builder when he laid what he called the foundation.

He writes in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (ESV): “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Take care how you speak into others’ lives. Be bold. Share. Establish foundations. Build with care on others’ foundations in Christ.

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Wisdom Prayer

Claiming To Be wise?

Claiming To Be wise?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who choose to rely on God’s wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Obtaining wisdom without God has become an end in and of itself.

Secular books, courses, and retreats all claim to teach the way to do it.

Do not be deceived by false teachers who rely on worldly wisdom!

In 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (NLT), Paul denies the worldly wisdom when he says, “And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.”

Walk in Spiritual wisdom and discernment. Beware of false teachers. Stop relying on the world’s wisdom.

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Wisdom Prayer

Relying on Your Ability?

Relying on Your Ability?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who rely too much on themselves. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Apostle Paul was well educated. Even so, he refused to rely solely on his own ability when he shared the truth of the Gospel. Nor did he want to rely on the wisdom of the world. Rather, when he was sharing about God’s truth, it was all Jesus.

He declares in 1 Corinthians 2:2 (ESV): “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Some cultures emphasize self-reliance. And that can sometimes be a good thing. But it may be time to stop relying on ourselves and worldly wisdom when it comes to sharing Jesus. Do like Paul the next time an opportunity arises to discuss eternal matters: focus on Jesus and him crucified.

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Wisdom Prayer

Speak Up Without Fear?

Speak Up Without Fear?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who want to be bold and to speak the word without fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Many cower when it comes to speaking in public.

Yet, many have a powerful interpersonal witness.

Whatever the circumstances, God uses his followers. For example, Apostle Paul shared the Gospel even though he was in chains. He became well known, and God used his notoriety to spread the Gospel.

Paul, writing in Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV) tells us, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

You have heard about Paul. Now be emboldened like those brothers who heard about him. Speak the word without fear!

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