Daily Devotional for Friday, May 10

Prayer Concerning God’s Power

“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power,” 2 Thessalonians 1:11.

As Christians, our main prayer is for God’s will to be done. Even when things are certain to happen, we are to keep on praying for the Lord to do His will. The New Testament closes with John praying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). We know He is returning; He promised.

Paul and his missionary team did the same for the Thessalonian believers. The Lord had worked and would continue to work, and they still prayed for it. God had called the Thessalonian Christians to put their faith in Him and walk with Him, and they did. Paul comforted them in their persecution, reminding them that God is their avenger, and the wicked will stand before Him. But Paul also knew their race and their persecution was not over. He prayed continuously for them, just as he admonished them in his first letter (1 Thessalonians 5:17) to persevere and remain faithful. He asked God to see his friends through the fire. It is only with God’s help and power that the Thessalonians or any believer can remain faithful and be counted worthy of being called God’s child.

The team prayed that God would fulfill His will in their lives—His good pleasure or desire for goodness and His work of faith in them—by His power. Goodness is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). God alone grows that inside of each believer. It cannot be done by human strength or will but by God’s power operating in human lives. Therefore, Paul prayed that God would do it for and in his friends, that they would produce in their lives works from faith and live in such a way that pleased the Lord.

THOUGHT
May the Lord produce His goodness and work of faith in your life through His power.

Kelli Reynolds