Something you can't forget about
10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
It appears …
8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Lord, I do feel pressedand perplexed right now, and all of my own doing. I know I could be crushed into despair if it were not for You. I keep making choices that are not Yours, and You keep rescuing me. I feel like …
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
I am barely a clay jar! I am so week and faithless, and yet You are in me. Sometimes I don’t think I see a lot of Your power in my life, and yet I am here with You though many trials have tried to tear us …
6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”a made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Jesus, I want so bad for some people who are close to me to know and love You. I want to convince them with logical arguments and discussions. I am so frustrated that …
5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
Jesus, clearly if Paul can be a servant to those he is hoping will come to You, I should be a servant also. I have people very close to me who do not want to acknowledge that they know You. In the world’s eyes, I rank ahead of them, but …
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Lord, You know I have people I love who think Your gospel is complete foolishness. Please Lord, do not let them …
1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
God, I don’t know what my ministry is, and I am losing heart. I thought my main ministry was to my family, but I am failing there. It appears I am pushing them away from You. What am I to do Father? I know I do not bring You glory by being downcast, yet how …
18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflecta the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
How can I reflect Your glory Jesus? Father, I am so weak and so sinful. How do I show Your glory? Father, You know my heavy heart. How does my sadness show Your glory? I must assume this pain …
We all need to have the proper goal when we start. Reading the Bible and understanding it better will bring us closer to God, which will help us bring Him glory. In the broadest sense, that really is what life is all about. Sometimes we look so closely at …
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Lord Jesus, Your Spirit does bring freedom. People who do not know You don’t seem to understand at all. Your life and Your love is so different than the worlds. It seems so clear to me now how following You has freed me from all the weight of sin and hatred. Forgiveness …