Corona Devo 933

What are we praying for today?  

Healing?  Peace?  Money?  Comfort?  Protection?  Health?  A miracle?  Joy?  Strength?

We pray for lots of things, and God tells us to: So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Luke 11:9). 

But when was the last time we prayed for the opportunity to encourage others in their faith, and also to be encouraged in ours (Romans 1:12)? 

Those items are not usually on my daily prayer docket, but they were on Paul's, a leader in the very first Jesus-movement in Bible days. 

I know (and admire) that Paul had a mouth for sharing the hope and story of Jesus like no one else to everyone else.  But I never knew that he had such a heart for encouraging other Believers along the way. 

But it makes sense.  We can't do this life (faith) trek alone, and we aren't supposed to.  Paul understood that, and his example through the Bible helps us to understand it today too.

One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. (11) For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. (12) When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.  ~Romans 1:10-12

Paul puts it so simple, and yet it is so profound.  

We should pray for opportunities to visit other believers, to bring them some spiritual gift that will help them grow strong in the Lord, and to encourage them in their faith (Romans 1:10-12).

A friend of mine called me today while still-kneeling in tears-of-gratitude in her (prayer) closet.  She had made a phone call to ask for (business) help, and while the woman on the other end of the phone line ("Roma") could not fix the issue, this "stranger" (a believer) visited my friends heart, and brought her a spiritual gift to help her grow strong in the Lord.  In speaking God's comfort and truth into my friend ("Fix your eyes on Jesus...You are working for the King"), Roma encouraged my friend's faith right through-the-phone-lines.  

Had Roma prayed for...the opportunity...to bring...some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord?  Did she know when she picked up that ringing line that she would encourage another in her faith and also encourage us in ours?  

One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity...I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.  ~Romans 1:10, 12

~~~

At church this week I met a woman whose husband just took a new (big) job.  She shared with me that as they met the new team he would lead, one of the women noticed through conversation that they were believers.  The woman told my (new) friend in Christ that they had been praying for a Christian to come into this position, and that she and her husband were answers to prayer.

I'd say that woman took the opportunity...to encourage my church-friend in her faith, but she also...encourages us in ours!  

~~~

We should pray for opportunities to visit other believers, to bring them some spiritual gift that will help them grow strong in the Lord, and to encourage them in their faith (Romans 1:10-12).

And when God pricks-our-heart for someone, or nudges-our-spirit, then we should take that opportunity.  

Please know that I am NO angel, but when Jesus whispered to my heart that a friend of mine needed encouragement, I took the opportunity to encourage her in faith by writing to her.  


Another note that came in our mailbox last week was for our son.  From a non-believer, his opportunities in encouraging are leading her nearer to Christ, whether she knows it (yet) or not:


These efforts (opportunities-in-Christ) will not return void, whether we hear back about them or not.  Either way, they are spiritually impactful, encouraging, and faith-reviving for us and them.  

Have we had the opportunity...to see other Jesus-followers, to visit believers, or to bring them some spiritual gift that will help them grow strong in the Lord?    

~~~

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.  ~Romans 1:12

It goes both ways.  It's faith-building to build-up in faith, and it is faith-building to be built-up by others in our faith.

What Paul did in and for the early church worked.  His heart was on-fire for Jesus and He shared the Good News with anyone and everyone, and he prayed for opportunities to encourage them.  He also prayed for others to encourage his faith.  

It makes sense.  So, what are we praying for today?


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com


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