Something you can't forget about
15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Father, is my life bringing Your grace to others? If it is, show me and help me give you the thanksgiving and glory You so much deserve. I am so afraid I am hurting You more than helping. I do not live …
Actually, this is a great question, but it does need a little clarification. You say all the gods of the different religions are the same, but the examples you site are not the gods themselves, but people’s experience with those gods. The difference is crucial. I will concede that people involved in different religions have very similar experiences. I think this does show a universal need for humans to find …
13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”b With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.
“I believe therefore I have spoken.” Jesus, I speak so little for You. I have hidden my words …
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 …
I am not a philosophy or church authority and have had no formal training in this area. I am just a thinking person who wants to explore the logic and philosophy behind what I have chosen to believe. I do not believe that I can use …
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 …