Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18; 3:1-11
Mon, 25 April 2022

Certain Dynamics Interplaying with Prayer

Observation:

Why did it matter to Paul to pray to God to direct his way to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 3:9-11)?

Deeper Reflection
PAUL’S GREETING IN HIS LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS, “Grace to you and peace” (1 Thess 1:1), is no mere social wishes, but a prayer to God. So also, is his benediction, “Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus…” (1 Thess 3:11-13). The pastoral context of Paul asking God “to direct our way to you” (1 Thess 3:11) reveals certain dynamics interplaying with prayer.Human effort: After being forced to leave the Thessalonians abruptly, resulting in a painful separation from them, Paul made attempts “again and again” (vv.17-18a) to reconnect with them. These human attempts were made in the Lord. We can assume that they were made prayerfully. Surely, the Lord was present in these attempts. Demonic obstruction: Paul’s relentless attempts were unsuccessful, because “Satan hindered us” (v.18b). God was not absent, but was sovereign over the demonic obstruction. We may ask, “Why didn’t God intervene in His sovereignty?” We may not have an immediate answer to such a question or no answer at all. Stopgap measures: Undaunted, Paul did the next best thing. He sent Timothy to the Thessalonians “to establish and encourage” them in their faith (1 Thess 3:1-2). Timothy returned with good news about them “standing fast in the Lord” (1 Thess 3:6-8). But to Paul, what Timothy had done was insufficient. Fervent praying: Paul “pray[ed] most earnestly day and night” that God will “direct” his way to the Thessalonians for a face-to-face filling up of “what is lacking” in their faith (1 Thess 3:10-11). Did God answer Paul’s prayer? Yes, but “only about five years later when Paul visited Macedonia twice towards the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:1-3)”53.
53 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 67
Application:

What matters most to me in my prayer to God?

Prayer:
God, my heavenly Father, You know what I need even before I ask You.51 And Your interest in me includes such trivial things like my sitting down and rising up, and numbering the hairs of my head.52 So, resting in Your loving care, I seek in prayer for things that matter most, like Your name be hallowed, Your kingdom comes and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
51 Matthew 6:8 52 Psalm 139:2; Matthew 10:30
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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