“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 

 It is you! 20Yes, you are our pride and joy.

That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.

But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Lord God my Father,

Give me single focus to seek you only, allow you delight to rest on me and protect me from the tempter so I may be clear headed and protected, encouraging others.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. 

We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

Lord God my Father,

Cleanse my heart and restore me to your desire. Open my heart so I may know you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 

 If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24And they praised God because of me.

I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus

Lord God my Father,

Keep my focus on your Truth, help me to speak Truth to others even when it is hard. Allow me to carry your reputation in my day, allow my belief to be direct from you without my ponder.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?

Lord God my Father,

Give me a discerning heart that seeks your truth and is alert to deception. Help me to walk in your Peace so others may seek your Truth.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”

Lord God my Father,

I offer my will to your care, remove my sinful way and set me free under your authority.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” 12This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.

Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn’t.

Lord God my Father,

Keep my heart close so I may not fall to deception, keep your Peace so powerful I may see only your Truth.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene get up and walk!”

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. 18But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things.

‘The stone that you builders rejectedhas now become the cornerstone.

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”

But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 

 “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to understand what you have given me and keep my heart humble. Give me a forgiving heart so I may use my life as witness your plan for me. Give me a boldness without fear from this world to serve you well.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.13But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

 “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

Lord God my Father,

I know you are with me, help me to allow this truth to be complete in my thoughts. Open my mind when I am ready to know your plan. I repent of my way and desire your way to guide me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16But God kept them from recognizing him.

“He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him.

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

“Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39Look at my hands. Look at my feet. 

“Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

 “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 

Lord God my Father,

Have your way with me, open my eyes when I am ready and give me a faith that needs no proof. Allow your desire to overwhelm mine so I may see as you wish me to.

I Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Mary!” Jesus said.She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” 

Lord God my Father,

Give me a faith that will hear you call my name so I will know you as Marry did.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen