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.