Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

2 Corinthians 3

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. v5

I often suffer from the sins of arrogance and pride and I need reminders often that all comes from God and that I am not to boast about anything.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are all powerful, all knowing, and full of love for me...of course Your love knows no bounds and You chose me...knowing everything about me...sin and all...how awesome is that!  I am not worth such love.  I am selfish, lazy, prideful, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be strong for Lisa.  Help me serve Lisa.  Please cure Lisa and give her comfort from pain and suffering.  I love You Jesus.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. v15

I KNOW God loves me...and He loves Lisa, and Zach and Dustin....and all of humanity and He wants all to come to Him.  I think also of this song...which certainly rings true for me...despite what is going on with Lisa.

I want to please God so that I can be to God the pleasing aroma of Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You love me....more than I can imagine or describe.  I know You love Lisa, Zach and Dustin also...I know there is goodness in Lisa's cancer I just can understand what it is.  Thank You for Your love but please forgive me for my doubt, my worry, my selfishness.  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Help me serve Lisa and others.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

2 Corinthians 2

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. v10-11

Jesus is real..I know this and He lives daily in my life and in the lives of those around me.  Satan is real too...less powerful than Jesus but more powerful than us and it is only through Him that I can beat Satan and his schemes.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You are real and You are great!  You are all powerful, and more  powerful than anyone or anything...You even beat death and You can certainly beat Satan.  I need You to help my battle sin and Satan because it is difficult and beyond my power...I am weak, selfish, lazy, harsh with my thoughts, words, actions, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me!  Help me turn away from my sin and towards You!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength to be Jesus for Lisa and to serve her.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

2 Corinthians 1

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. v12

Wordly wisdom is one of the most tempting traps for me in terms of sin...relying on worldy wisdom vs God's grace.  I pray and I strive to rely fully on God's grace.

Paul also writes that we are to be confident and firm in our service to others - as we are Christ's ambassadors - in the same way that God is faithful and firm in our promises to us:

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are firm and faithful - always keeping Your promises...which are many and all blessings!  I am not worth such love and blessing by such a great God!  I am selfish...selfish in the service to my family...thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.

2 Corinthians 1

On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. v10-11

Paul reflects on his demise and how God saved him from physical harm and indeed Lisa is facing this and I am trying to walk alongside her.  Paul finds great comfort by leaning on Christ and through the prayers of others.  I too gain great comfort from Christ and from the prayers of others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my protector, Lisa's protector and so much more...I know You are walking along side us during this trial and I know others are praying fervently for us.  Praise for both of these sources of kindness and love.  I am not worth such love.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, harsh with my thoughts/words/actions, selfish, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith - help me be the man You intend for me.  Give me strength.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. v3-4

I know God comforts me and Lisa but I don't yet understand why God is allowing Lisa to have cancer...I know God is good and I wait expectantly for God's goodness but I am loathe to suffer through this and more importantly I am loathe to see Lisa suffer...she has been nothing but sweetness, gentleness, and service as a wife and mom to myself, Zach, and Dustin.  I look to Jesus Christ alone for comfort and wisdom...to help us through this.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my rock...I know we can count on You.  When the whole world crumbles around me...I know You are there and always will be.  I am not deserving of such a God.  I am weak, I worry, I doubt, I am impatient, quick to anger and slow to listen, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16

Do everything in love. v14

As much as I can I pray that I can follow the two most important commands:
1. Love the Lord with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength
2. Love others as Jesus does loves us (John 13)

Love is probably one of the most discussed topics in the Bible.  Another verse that pops into my head:

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

My Prayer: Lord, YOU are love.  You are love beyond what I can ever comprehend...deeper and broader than my human understanding...and You love me...even though You know everything about me, including my sin...and You chose me and then suffered and died in my place.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a love.  I am lazy, selfish, quick to anger, slow to listen, full of pride, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

1 Corinthians 14

In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. v20

In this chapter, there are several themes with the primary theme being use of our speech with an emphasis on prophecy vs speaking in tongues - the latter being something that does not do much if anything to build up the church as Paul desires (see v26).  

The primary theme of this chapter is best summarized I feel in the below verse:

But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.  v19

Yet verse 20 speaks to me in the sense that God desires both the church to be built up (towards maturity) and each believer.  In Romans 12:2, Paul seeks for us to have a trajectory of growth driven by our focus on God:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

 Hebrews 6:1 (as posted here) also speaks to this.

My Prayer: Jesus, You indeed are a great God full of love, compassion, healing, kindness and above all love.  You are full of love above how any person can love.  And I know You love me...You chose me and then suffered and died for me...knowing everything about me including my sin.  I am not worth such a love.  I am selfish, uncaring, I worry too much , I am lazy, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

1 Corinthians 13

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. v11

I believe I am a man, yet I often act like a child - in my selfishness, my laziness, my anger, my impatience, etc.  I desperately need Jesus to strengthen me and to help me be the man He intends for me.

My Prayer: Lord, I know that when I am weak You are strong.  You provide in all ways...I am not deserving of how You provide or even that You provide at all.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, impatient, lazy, harsh with my thoughts/words/actions, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

1 Corinthians 12

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. v12-14

Paul discusses how God created the church for us to be dependent on each other through the distribution of spiritual gifts.  Earlier in this chapter he writes:

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

 

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. v4-11

Right now, with Lisa facing breast cancer...I see the body at work coming to support a "part" in need.  Praise God for the church and His perfect design of the church and how the church glorifies God by working as intended.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and Your design, Your works....everything about You is perfect and I am amazed that You would come to earth to suffer and die...for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and affection.  I am selfish, full of worry, impatient, harsh with my thoughts, words and actions, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for my sin!  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. v31

I have often referred to scripture that indicates that we should do our best.

See also here.  God provides us with all we need, including time, treasures, talents, food, shelter, etc. and He expects us to make much with what He provides and places in our care.  See also Luke 12:48:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. 

My Prayer:  Lord, You indeed are a great God...full of love, compassion, mercy, generosity, etc. and so much more!  Your love for all of Your children knows no boundaries...and You actively work on our behalf and You are always there for us...despite what we do!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such blessing...I am full of judgement in my heart and in my actions and words.  I worry...I am quick to anger and slow to listen.  Thank You that You love me anyway and please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. v13

Lord, I know that life on earth is a great spiritual battle and You are my weapon.  I need only You and what You provide. I have fought off many temptations when I allow Your strength to work through my weakness.

Right now the temptation (with Lisa's cancer) is to stop having faith and trust in You and instead have a hardened heart.  I certainly don't want this and I know You are always there and will never stop loving me and Lisa.

My Prayer: Lord, You are indeed an awesome God.  What Lisa is going through is certainly not fun and there are moments when I worry and fail to trust You.  I am deeply grateful that You love me despite these sins.  I am also deeply grateful that You love me anyway, and for all of the love and support You provide through Your Son, Your Word, and through the brothers and sisters in Christ that have so greatly encouraged us.  I need You badly Lord...help me be strong so I can be strong for Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Please cure Lisa!  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Please also help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

1 Corinthians 10

 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. v10

Last night at BSF, we were talking about how the Israelites constantly grumbled and complained, regardless of how the Lord rescued them from bondage, parted the Red Sea for them, and repeatedly provided for them as the set out for the Promised Land.  We all grumble and complain, often times multiple times during the day.  God is in control and our complaints reflect a displeasure and complaint against God and so Paul instructs to avoid grumbling and complaining.

Philippians 2:14-15 NIV

[14] Do everything without grumbling or arguing, [15] so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky

...instead we are to:

...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

My Prayer: Lord, I know You have great plans for me...plans not for harm but to prosper me (and Lisa).  You never break Your promises. Yet I have many questions and doubt at this time...please forgive me Jesus!  I thank You that You know everything about me, including my doubt and worry, yet You love me anyway.  Forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me truly love and trust You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today.  Give me strength.

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air

1 Corinthians 9

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. v25

God has a plan...we know that...and God wants You to have a plan...one grounded in God's guidance for You (through the word, wise counsel, prayer, confirming circumstances, etc.).  We are to be intentional in our lives to live out what we believe is God's plan for us.

See also the following link:

"For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Once we understand God's will for our lives we are to be intentional...instead of running aimlessly.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, just and merciful.  I don't know why things happen but I know that You have a plan and it is not for harm, but to prosper Lisa and myself.  Thank You Jesus so much for being the great God that You are...to me personally.  I am not deserving of a great God yet You are there...and You always have been and always will be.  I am selfish, my thoughts are often evil and sinful...please forgive me for such sin Jesus and help me turn from such sin.  Help me turn towards You instead and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  Help me lead my household and Lisa through this difficult journey.

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

1 Corinthians 9

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. v22

Lord, You came to seek and save the lost and Your charge all of your servants to do the same.  Here Paul encourages me to meet people where they are.  We should not be someone we are not but we should be in relationship with people and not an "outsider" to the extent that we cannot fully appreciate the circumstances in which people find themselves.  To win the hearts and minds of unbelievers we must be in relationship with others and appreciate their circumstances...so we can talk into their lives where they are.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus...what an awesome God You are.  You knew everything about me...sin and all...yet You chose to come for me...to suffer and die for me.  You continue to serve me daily and I know You love me more than anyone on earth ever can.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and sacrifice...I am lustful, harsh with my thoughts, words, actions, selfish, etc.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and everyday.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

1 Corinthians 8

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.  For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? v9-10

Our life should be a witness to others, and we are not be slack in our ways or a hypocrite...even in the slightest or smallest "insignificant" ways.  Unbelievers will use our ways to justify their own wicked ways.  

I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 11:45

My Prayer:  Lord, You ARE Holy...pure, holy and blameless.  Yet You willingly came to earth, for me, and then suffered and died for me.  You rose again to beat death, so that I would no longer be a slave to sin, I would have forgiveness for my sin, and that I would have new life and life in Heaven forever with You and my brothers and sisters in Christ.  How awesome You are.  I am not all of what You have done..or any of it.  I have lust in my heart, I am selfish, quick to anger and slow to listen, impatient, harsh with my thoughts, words, and actions...and there is more.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for my sin and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do and help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

1 Corinthians 4

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. v20

Paul warns us of arrogance and haughty talk...this is foolishness.  What we say means nothing unless we submit to Jesus Christ and allow Him to speak through us.  If we don't and we speak using our own words and through our worldly worldview, then of course our words are meaningless.  As Paul writes we should be come "fools for Christ" vs wise in this world.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, all wisdom and knowledge comes from You are wise indeed - beyond any description and I am to see You in all of my moments and days for guidance in my life and my challenges.  I am lost without You.  I need You desperately in my life...I am sinful. I lust in my heart, commit adultery in my heart sometimes...thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Please help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness....2 Timothy 3:16

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God

1 Corinthians 4

He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. v5

Heavenly Father, I do want to store up treasures in Heaven...I do want to please You vs pleasing others and success in earthly terms.  As I posted Friday, what is wise in this age is not wise according to the Father, so let me understand and please You Jesus so that I can live for Heaven and pleasing You.  I don't want to be tripped up.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are wisdom and understanding and Your ways and will are perfect - I want to be part of Your plan and Your will and I don't want to focus on earthly or my own plans or designs.  You are a great God and I know You are my guide.  I don't always follow You or love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength but I want to.  You have transformed my life, my heart, and You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Clearly I am not worth the blessing You have provided and the mercy and compassion You have poured out for me.  Thank You that You love me despite my sin...but please forgive me and help me turn from my sin.  Help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today.