Day 6: Empowerment
Today’s Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:3–12
Welcome to Day 6 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2023. This is Week 1, Walking in the Fear of the Lord.
The Focus: “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that BY HIS POWER HE MAY BRING TO FRUITION your every desire for goodness and your EVERY DEED PROMPTED BY FAITH. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11–12)
The Meditation: “By His power He may bring to fruition . . . every deed prompted by faith.”
More Than Good Intentions
Most of us start a new year with good intentions. By the end of the first week some of them are already fading. The church in Thessalonica was under far greater pressure than we are. They were being persecuted for their faith (2 Thessalonians 1:4).
Paul does not tell them to try harder. He prays for them.
What Paul Asks
He asks that God would make them worthy of His calling, and that by His power He would bring to fruition every desire for goodness and every deed prompted by faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
Look at how that works. The desire for goodness is ours, and so is the step of faith. But the power that brings them to completion belongs to God. He works in us to will and to act in order to fulfil His good purpose (Philippians 2:13).
Faith That Keeps Growing
Paul thanks God that the faith of these believers is growing more and more, and that their love for one another is increasing (2 Thessalonians 1:3). Hardship had not shrunk their faith. In God’s hands it had stretched it.
He also reminds them that God is just. A day is coming when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven and will put everything right (2 Thessalonians 1:6–7). We can keep going now because we know how the story ends.
For His Name
The aim of the prayer is in the last verse. Paul asks all this so that the name of the Lord Jesus will be honoured in them (2 Thessalonians 1:12). God gives us power so that Jesus is seen, and not so that we look impressive.
Pray It Through
Bring an unfinished thing. What good desire has stalled in your life? Ask God to bring it to completion by His power.
Take one step of faith. Is there something He has prompted you to do? Do it today, and trust Him with the result.
Pray for the persecuted. Remember believers who are suffering for the name of Jesus, and ask God to strengthen them.
Prayer for Today
Father, I admit that my good intentions are not enough. Make me worthy of the calling You have given me. By Your power, complete every desire for goodness that You have placed in me and every step that faith has prompted. Let the name of the Lord Jesus be honoured in my life. In His name, Amen.
Listen and Watch
Pastor Ras shares a short message for Day 6 in the audio and video below.
Keep going
See every day of this guide on our Prayer & Fasting page.
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