Standing Firm In The Lord

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

1 Thessalonians 3: 6-13

“Is God doing something new in your life?”

There is a need to show patience with aging parents, a need for stamina when one of our spouses gets sick, and understanding our children who have not yet chosen to follow Jesus. God will expand our capacities to love.

In Scripture we are told: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else.”

During difficulties we often choose to complain and ask, Why? Or wonder, Why me? Another way to handle those times could be to ask the Lord to expand His love in our hearts and to help us take the new opportunities that comes to love others.

We have our own list of things we could worry about, Lord. Change our thinking. Open our eyes to love.

Our troubles can fill our prayers with love an empathy for others.

Our Daily Bread – September 1, 2017