PrayerThots Devotional

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of 2nd Corinthians
is to affirm Paul’s ministry, defends
his authority as an apostle and to
refute the false teachers in Corinth.
After his first letter, Paul’s teaching,
character and motives were then
brought up under attack by some.
Paul writes to present his credentials
and vindicate his conduct; thanking
those who support him as well as appealing to the rebellious minority.

On Monday, we learn from 2 Cor 1
that God of Compassion Delivers Us.
On Tuesday, we learn from 2Cor 3
that Spirit of the Lord Enables Us.
On Wed, we learn from 2 Cor 4
that Spirit of Faith Empowers Us.
On Thu, we learn from 2 Cor 5
that God Made Us New Creation.
On Fri, we learn from 2Cor 10 that
God Provides Spiritual Resources.
On Saturday, we learn from 2Cor 12
that God Strengthens In Weakness.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You are worthy of our Praise
as God made us New Creation and
the Spirit of the Lord Enables Us.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as God of Conpassion Delivers Us
and the Spirit of Faith Empowers Us.
For You Provide Spiritual Resources
and Strengthen Us In Weakness.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Strengthens In Weakness

Paul defended his ministry by
showing how individuals can be
reconciled to a loving God. And he
pleads with the Corinthian church
to be reconciled to him as their
spiritual father. In his final words,
Paul draws upon his authority as
an apostle to exhort the rebellious
to repent so that his approaching
visit can be a time of rejoicing.

Lord, we will be Enabled by You:
Three different times I begged
the Lord to take (a thorn in my
flesh) away. Each time He said:
My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.
So now I am glad to boast about
my weaknesses, so that the power
of Christ can work through me.
That’s why I take pleasure in
my weaknesses, hardships and
troubles that I suffer for Christ.
For when I am weak, then I am
strong (2 Cor 12:8-10). Amen.

Lord, teach me the art of looking
to You God instead of being
immersed at my problems.
Remind me Lord that anything
of lasting value in life is really
because of You and not me;
for success come from You.
Give me eyes of faith for Yr grace
that I may press on even when
I feel being overwhelmed. Amen.

Lord, I have much weaknesses
to give You; and You know all
my frailties that keep me feeling
insufficient. But You are my
sufficiency and my strength.
I fully depend on You Lord and
surrender my frailties over to You.
Please step Lord into my gaps
and weaknesses with Yourself
and Your help. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, You promise in Your Word
that Your power works best in
our weaknesses. So Lord work
in and thru all my weaknesses.
I am thankful and grateful Lord
that I don’t have to be perfect
so that I can be useful to You.
Help me trust Your strength to work
in my weaknesses; and You’ll raise
me up to more than I can be. Amen.

God Provides Spiritual Resources

Paul defended his ministry by
showing how individuals can be
reconciled to a loving God. And
he pleads with the Corinthian
church to be reconciled to him
as their spiritual father. In his
final words, Paul draws upon
his authority as an apostle to exhort
the rebellious to repent so that
his approaching visit can be a time
of rejoicing rather than rebuke.

Lord, we’ll use Yr mighty weapons:
We are humans but we don’t wage
war with human plans & methods.
We use God’s mighty weapons,
not mere worldly weapons to
knock down the Devil’s strongholds.
With these weapons we break
down every proud argument that
keeps people from knowing God.
With these weapons we conquer
their rebellious ideas & teach them
to obey Christ (2Cor 10:3-6) Amen.

Lord, thanks for providing resources
including Word of God and Prayer
which are “God’s mighty weapons.”
And thank You that our arsenal are
more powerful than Satan’s & open
the way for God’s spirit to work.
Help us use these spiritual weapons
effectively as we trust in Your power.
Remove the mountains in our lives &
make the impossible possible. Amen

Lord, praise You for the power
of Your Word; for it can penetrate
hearts in ways no amount of human
reasoning and philosophy can do.
Trust that Your Word will speak
to the hearts of even the most
atheistic people and convict them.
For You have clearly promised that
Your Word will achieve its purpose
of telling the world the truth. Amen.

Lord, praise You for Your weapons
of warfare are mighty & supernatural
and will conquer rebellious ideas.
Teach us Lord to wield them even
as we stand against the enemy,
interceding for pre-believers.
Lord, pray that You will demolish
the devil’s dark strongholds and
establish Your kingdom of truth
and light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God Made Us His New Creation

Paul opens his 2nd epistle to the
Corinthians by establishing his
authority & source of his revelation.
He then praises God for what
He has done. In contrast to the
old covenant which condemned,
the glorious new covenant sealed
by Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers effective in
calling people to repentance.

Lord, we are Your Ambassadors:
God… has given us the Spirit
as a guarantee… Therefore
we are always confident…
We live by faith, not by sight…
We make it our point to please Him…
For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of God that each
one may receive… according to
what he has done (2Cor 5:5-10).
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ
he is a New Creation; old things
have passed away; behold all things
have become new (2 Cor 5:17).
God… has given us the ministry of
reconciliation. God was reconciling
the world to Himself in Christ, not
counting people’s sins against them.
And He has committed to us the
message of reconciliation. We are
therefore Christ’s Ambassadors,
as though God were making
His appeal through us (v18-20).

Father, Thank You for giving us
the Spirit as a guarantee, so that
we can always be confident.
Praise You for being wise judge and
reigning over affairs of this world;
for nothing is hidden fr Your sight.
Grant us the grace to walk faithfully
and to do what’s pleasing to You.
And trust that You will restore and
bless Your people abundantly. Amen

Lord, Thank You for giving me new
life – a full life that will never end.
Thank You Lord because I am
In Christ, the old me is gone
and I am empowered not to sin.
For because of You Lord,
I have become a brand new
person; and I have the capacity
to change and grow into the image
of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Father God, through Christ You
forgive sins and bring sinners back
into relationship with Yourself.
Thank You Lord for drawing me to
Yourself and saving me eternally.
You have given the gospel to me
so that I might share it with others.
As Your ambassadors, make us
be more engaging to those who
yet to know You. In Jesus’ name.

Spirit of Faith Empowers Us

Paul opens his 2nd epistle to the
Corinthians by establishing his
authority & source of his revelation.
He then praises God for what
He has done. In contrast to the
old covenant which condemned,
the glorious new covenant sealed
by Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, we will Tap to Your Power:
This light & power that now shine
within us is held in our weak bodies.
So everyone can see that our
glorious power is from God and
not our own. We are pressed on
every side by troubles but we are
not broken. We are perplexed but
we don’t give up and quit… God
never abandons us (2Cor 4:7-9).
And since we have the same
Spirit of Faith… we also believe
and therefore speak, knowing that
He who raised up the Lord Jesus
will also raise us up (v13-14).
Our present troubles won’t last very
long. Yet they produce for us an
immeasurably great glory that will
last forever! So we don’t look at
the troubles we can see right now;
rather we look forward to what we
have not yet seen. For the troubles
will soon be over; but the joys
to come will last forever (v17-18).

Lord, Thank You for designing me
to be a clay jar with an amazing
treasure inside. Although the
circumstances may press me
down, You never abandon me.
May others see Your power and
light through my life. And may
You be glorified in my weakness in
this earthen vessel that I am.Amen

Lord, I recognise opposing forces
and troubles can press me down.
Restore my hope in You O Lord and
help me take my eyes away from
problems as I wait patiently on You.
Grant me the faith, courage and
perseverance to keep following You.
For I purpose to keep going Lord
to do Your will and have an eternal
impact on those around me. Amen.

Lord, focus my eyes clearly on the
eternal, for that will put my present
troubles into a proper perspective.
Help me to see You as You are,
to perceive You with my spirit
and not just with my mind.
And help me Lord to realise that
You are in me and I am in You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Spirit of the Living God Enables Us

Paul opens his 2nd epistle to the
Corinthians by establishing his
authority & source of his revelation.
He then praises God for what
He has done. In contrast to the
old covenant which condemned,
the glorious new covenant sealed
by Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, You Will Make Us Able:
You are our epistle… known and
read by all men… you are an epistle
of Christ… written by the Spirit
of the living God (2Cor 3:2-3).
Such confidence we have through
Christ. Not that we are sufficient
of ourselves to think of anything
as being from ourselves but our
sufficiency is from God (v4-5).
Whenever someone turns to
the Lord, the veil is taken away…
So all of us who have had the veil
removed can see and reflect the
glory of the Lord. And the Lord…
makes us more and more like
Him as we are changed into His
glorious image (v16-18). Amen.

Lord, teach me the art of looking
to You instead of the problems.
Remind me anything of lasting value
in my life is because of You, not me.
I am Your living epistle Lord and
power & success come from You.
Give me Lord eyes of faith
so that I might press on even
when I feel the challenges
are so overwhelming. Amen.

Lord, I realise the areas which
I feel inadequate or struggle,
draw me to You. And that I am
able to accomplish what You ask
of me only through Your power.
Thank You for Your Word for in it
I learn that You are my sufficiency.
May my confidence always be
in You thru Christ Jesus; and then
You will receive all praise. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for
loving me enough to work in me.
Make me aware of Your presence
and cooperate with Your Spirit.
Give me unveiled encounters; for
there’s no limits in knowing You.
I want to reflect as much of Your
grace and glory over time. And
though I may not always see signs
of change but pray others can.Amen

God of Compassion Delivers Us

Paul opens his second epistle
to the Corinthians the same way
he began his first by establishing
his authority and documenting the
source of his revelation. He then
praises God for what He has done
for Timothy & him. In contrast to
the old covenant which condemned
the glorious new covenant sealed
in Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, Your Promises are Secure:
All Praise to God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ…
He comforts us in all our troubles
so that we can comfort others.
When others are troubled,
we will be able to give them
the same comfort God has
given us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
We should not trust in ourselves
but in God who raises the dead,
who delivered us from so great
a death and does deliver us;
in whom we trust that
He will still deliver us (v9-10).
As God is faithful, our word to
you was not Yes and No… For
all the promises of God In (Christ)
are Yes and in Him Amen (v18-20).

Lord, Thank You for the times
You have comforted me. I know
that You have comforted me so
that I can do the same for others.
As this world is full of people who
are hurting; make me sensitive
to those I meet who need Your
touch of comfort. Keep me an
open vessel through which Your
love and comfort can flow. Amen.

Lord, we realise that Your way
of teaching us to rely on You God
more fully may mean that we will
be having only You to rely on.
And that can be uncomfortable,
for many of us have been taught
since young to be more self-reliant.
So Lord, we ask You to teach us
what it means to rely more fully
on You instead of ourselves. Amen.

Lord, Thank You for Your great
and precious promises! Thank You
for reminding us that Jesus is the
“Divine Yes” of all Your promises.
Help me mighty Lord to sense and
experience Your love behind Your
promise even as I trust in You.
Help me Lord pray with confidence
because I trust that not one of Your
promises will fail. Amen & amen!

God Provides A Way Out

Backgrounder to 1 Cor 7-15:
The Corinthian Church had sent
Apostle Paul a list of questions
on marriage, morality, liberty,
worship and resurrection.
Building on Old Testament
quotations and Christ’s teaching,
Paul answered them in a way meant
to correct abuses in the church
and to show how important it is
that they live what they believe.

Lord, help us Resist Temptation:
We should not lust after evil things…
And do not become idolaters…
Nor let us commit sexual immorality..
nor complain as some of them
complain (1 Corinthians 10:6-10).
Therefore let him who thinks
he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken
you except what is common
to mankind. And God is faithful;
He will Not let u 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 (v12-13)
Therefore my beloved, flee
from idolatry. I speak as to the
wise; judge for yourselves (v14-15).

Lord, help us to be watchful of evil,
idolatry & immorality lurking around.
Whilst You God don’t promise
to protect us from temptations,
You promise Your help In Resisting
temptations when we face them.
Thank You Lord for Your promise
that No temptation will ever
be so strong that we can’t
stand up against it. Amen.

Lord, at times we may feel
temptation is overpowering
and impossible to resist. But
Thank You for Holy Spirit to help
us recognise tempting situations
and show us the way to escape.
Help us stay away from every
activity we know that is wrong.
Help us Lord to consciously
choose to do only what is right.
Help us O Lord for apart from
You we can do nothing. Amen.

Lord, Thank You for promising
that we can always escape the
temptation that comes our way.
We trust You O God to keep
any temptation from becoming so
strong that we have to give in to it.
Help us Lord to Resist temptation
or Flee from it as Joseph once did.
Help us free from idolatry; and
Help us make wise judgments.Amen

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of this apostolic letter
by Paul is to identify problems in the
Corinthian church, to offer solutions
and to teach the believers how to
live for Christ in a corrupt society.
Paul recognises the gifts & strength
of the church, but he also deals
decisively with several problems
plaguing it. His goal is that all things
be done decently and in order.

On Monday, we learn from 1Cor 2
that Spirit of God Gives Insight.
On Tuesday, we learn from 1Cor 5/6
that the Passover Lamb Is Worthy.
On Wed, we learn from 1Cor 10
that God Provides A Way Out.
On Thu, we learn from 1Cor 12
that God Promises Spiritual Gifts.
On Friday, we learn from 1Cor 13/14
that God Spurs Love to Build Church
On Saturday, we learn from 1Cor 15
that Resurrection Lord Gives Victory.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You are worthy of our Praise
as the Passover Lamb Is Worthy
and Spirit of God Gives Insight.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as God Provides A Way Out and
Resurrection Lord Gives Victory.
For God Promises Spiritual Gifts
and You Spur Love to Build Church.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Resurrection Lord Gives Victory

Background Context of 1Cor 15/16:
False teachers had been confusing
the Corinthians by denying the
doctrine of physical resurrection.
Paul defends the Resurrection
as a historical fact confirmed
by more than 500 eyewitnesses.
The Resurrection provides hope
for the believer’s body and soul
as well as motivates believers to
abound in the work of the Lord.

Lord, thanks for Confident Hope:
For when the trumpet is blown,
those who have died will Be Raised
to Live Forever. And we who are
Living will also be transformed.
For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality.
Then… Death is swallowed up
in victory (1 Corinthians15:52-54).
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
But thank God! He gives us
Victory over sin and death through
our Lord Jesus Christ (v55-57).
(So)… be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of
the Lord, knowing that your labour
is Not In Vain in the Lord (v58).

Lord, in a world filled with gloomy
news, thank You that Your Word
holds Great Hope for the future.
And someday all believers of Christ
will be given brand new bodies.
Eternal life with God in heaven is far
better than what we encounter here.
Thank You we can be confident for
Your good plan for us, that You’re
in control and grant victory. Amen.

Lord, the sting of death is not dying
but rather what will happen after.
Thank You for eliminating possibility
of hell; but giving eternal bliss in
heaven for all who believe in Christ.
Grateful all because Jesus had paid
price for our sin and rose from the
dead, death has No Power over us.
Realising importance of the gospel,
help us be worthy witnesses. Amen.

Lord, we recognise that You have
given us talents and spiritual gifts.
They may not be something overt
like teaching and singing; but skills
like cooking or greeting people.
For all that matters is that we use
them for the Lord and His church.
And God promises Nothing done
for Him will be useless; and that
You’ll Honour faithful service. Amen